All Whites vs Iran | Tues 16th June | 1:00pm (NZT) | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Just a month away now, but will it be Iran?

This article a few weeks old, but looks like they have had two pre WC friendlies in the US (North Macedonia & Angola) cancelled.
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/team/iran-world-cup-2026-warm-up-friendlies-cancelled-as-fresh-doubt-cast-on-tournament-appearance

They are scheduled to play The Gambia in Turkey end of this month.

Big send off in Tehran.

https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/global-affairs/iranian-soccer-team-farewelled-before-us-2026-fifa-world-cup/video/c942201b9b9dba9dffaf801bc42934ab

Iran name a 30 man preliminary squad to train in Turkey, to be cut to 26 by June 1st.

Good luck with the visa applications. Infantino might need to call up Trumpy for a favour.

Most of the squad come from the suspended Persian Gulf Pro League.

Sounds like they may have bypassed a few European based players for political reasons??

Experienced forward Sardar Azmoun was a glaring omission as Iran named their preliminary World Cup squad before departing for a pre-tournament training camp.

Azmoun, who was reportedly expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government amid the US-Israel war on Iran, was not among the 30 players named in the squad on Saturday.

The 31-year-old striker, who plays his club football in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for Dubai’s Shabab Al-Ahli, upset the Iranian authorities in March by posting a picture on his Instagram feed of a meeting with Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, according to reports in Iranian media.

A report on the Fars News Agency in March quoted “an informed source within the national team” as saying Azmoun had been expelled from the squad. The player later removed the picture but was still lambasted on state TV.

Azmoun has scored 57 goals in his 91 appearances for his country and was part of Iran’s squad in its last two appearances at the World Cup.

Iran’s forward line at the World Cup will be led by Mehdi Taremi, who has played in major European football leagues and is currently plying his trade at Olympiacos FC in the top tier of Greek football.

The 30-member squad will travel to Turkiye on Monday for a training camp, friendlies and to complete visa applications before heading to the United States, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/iran-fifa-world-cup-participation-37168400

As well as  Azmoun, intel is that Sayyadmanesh (Westerlo) and Hosseinnejad (Machatsjkala - relegation bound club in Russia) have also been banned from the national team by the regime.

Ali Gholizadeh (winger) is another big out for them after sustaining a serious knee injury (ACL tear) while playing for Lech Poznań in the Polish league. Earlier in the season he scored against Paulsen's Gdansk.

Basically they are an older, very street wise experienced side. Expect a bit of rolling around the turf, milking any contact etc.

Are their any fractures in their team due differing views on the regime, and the war?
Who knows.
 

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei announced a 30-man preliminary Iran squad for the 2026 World Cup on May 17, 2026, featuring a mix of domestic and international players, notably omitting forward Sardar Azmoun. The squad, dominated by players from the Persian Gulf Pro League and several in European and West Asian leagues, will be trimmed to 26 by June 1.

Goalkeepers

 

Revamping an already $USD5Billion dollar stadium!

I remember in about March 2022 met a couple of older Americans who had just been to the Super Bowl (Bengals v Rams) held at this newly built stadium.
They said it was a pretty amazing structure.

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2026/05/18/how-all-whites-fifa-mens-world-cup-venue-is-being-transformed/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0d8c6i8Wxo

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Its going to be hard just what state the Iran team will be when they walk out on the field for the match against NZ.
Will they come out like mad dogs and fight to show their Western oppressors that they are a strong united people. Or will they just collapse under the pressure.
Because they will be under huge pressure. There has already 50 ,000 tickets sold, mostly to Iranian Americans who hate the current regime and will show that in the stands. Meanwhile the players will be under threats from their minders to not replicate what their womens team did in Oz, like not sing the anthem and try to defect.
In the meantime the worlds media will zone in on this match.
It should be a great watch.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360981462/iran-soccers-excluded-star-azmoun-posts-support-players

They have returned to Turkish coastal resort Antalya where in March they played two warmup games and also met FIFA president Gianni Infantino to talk about the logistical and political challenges of entering and playing games in the United States.

US President Donald Trump's administration promised in January to give athletes and coaches visiting for major sporting events an exemption from travel bans, but not other officials.

Iran national soccer team players arrive to Antalya, southern Turkey on Monday. Photo: AP

Have already made it clear to my students that the classroom TV will be screening this match, and if they're not watching it, they are working silently, or else...