Iranian Footballers Make History at FIFA World Cup 2026

In a historic moment for Iranian football, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Ehsan Hajsafi have become the first players from Iran to participate in four FIFA World Cups. This milestone was achieved during their match against Egypt in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. Both players have shown remarkable dedication to the national team, representing Iran in 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026. As the team remains unbeaten in their group, goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand praises the strength of their opponents, emphasizing the quality of the Egyptian squad. Discover more about this incredible achievement and the Iranian squad's journey in the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 27, 2026, 09:15 IST

Historic Achievement for Iranian Players

Seattle [US], June 27: Iranian football legends Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Ehsan Hajsafi have made their mark in FIFA World Cup history by becoming the first players from Iran to participate in four different editions of the tournament.

This remarkable achievement occurred during Iran's Group G match against Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026, showcasing their enduring presence in international football.

Both players have represented Iran in the 2014, 2018, 2022, and now the 2026 World Cups, highlighting their commitment to the national team over more than a decade.

https://x.com/FIFAcom/status/2070673468115538162?s=20

Prior to the match against Egypt, Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand praised the Egyptian team, emphasizing their strength and the quality of all 26 players, stating that each one is comparable to star forward Mohamed Salah.

"Egypt boasts exceptional talent. Every player in their World Cup squad is on par with Mohamed Salah," Beiranvand remarked, as reported by Iran Media SNN.

"Our focus is solely on bringing joy to the people of Iran," he added. The Iranian team has demonstrated resilience in Group G of the FIFA World Cup 2026, remaining unbeaten with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand and a goalless draw against Belgium.

Iran's squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 includes:

Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand, Hossein Hosseini, and Payam Niazmand.

Defenders: Daniyal Eiri, Ehsan Hajsafi, Saleh Hardani, Hossein Kanaani, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Milad Mohammadi, Ali Nemati, and Ramin Rezaeian.

Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi, Saeid Ezatolahi, Mehdi Ghayedi, Saman Ghoddos, Mohammad Ghorbani, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mohammad Mohebi, Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia, Mehdi Torabi, and Aria Yousefi.

Forwards: Ali Alipour, Dennis Dargahi, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, Shahriyar Moghanlou, and Mehdi Taremi.