Supposedly the weakest team in Group B, against England, Wales and the United States, Iran arrives in Qatar without any real sporting pressure.
But decked out in the extra-sporting one in a heavy political context in the country.
Narrowly eliminated in the first round of the 2018 World Cup, the Iranians aim to reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
The story
The Iranians are the first Asian team in the FIFA rankings, ahead of Japan.
Iran team form
Obliged to go through a second qualifying round in the Asia zone, from which it emerged victorious over Iraq, Team Melli then played a third round during which it ended up obtaining a ticket for Qatar… against its biggest regional rival.
Iran won by the smallest of margins (1-0) against Iraq last January, triggering real scenes of jubilation throughout the country.
Before challenging the Three Lions for their first Group B match on November 21, the Iranians recalled Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz to their helm in mid-September, who will live his third world ranking with the Iranian team after 2014 and 2018. .
The list of 25 players
As Iranian media reported possible pressure on coach Carlos Queiroz not to select team star Sardar Azmoun, who had made public his support for the Iranian people's revolt against the government, the Bayer Leverkusen striker is finally present in a list where other known names appear, such as that of the striker of Porto Taremi or Saman Ghoddos, passed by Ligue 1 in Amiens and today in Brentford in the Premier League.
Goalkeepers:
Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Ponferradina)
Defenders:
Ramin Rezaeian (Sepahan), Abolfazl Jalali (Esteghlal), Hossein Kananizadegan (Al Ahli SC), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Al Ahli SC), Mortza Pouraliganji (Persepolis), Majid Hosseini (Kayserispor), Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb), Milad Mohammadi (AEK), Ehsan Hajisafi (AEK)
Midfielders:
Saeid Ezatolahi (Vejle Boldklub), Ahmad Nourollahi (Shabab Al Ahli), Ali Karimi (Kayserispor), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Ali Gholizadeh ( Charleroi), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford)
Forwards:
Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen), Karim Ansarifard (Omonia), Mehdi Taremi (Porto)
Player to watch: Mehdi Taremi
Injured with Bayer Leverkusen, Sardar Azmoun has long been uncertain for this World Cup and will probably not be 100%.
If so, Mehdi Taremi will have to carry the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders.
The 30-year-old FC Porto striker will spearhead Team Melli's attack.
Hero in the country, of which he is one of the best historical scorers (27 goals), it was he who scored the goal of qualification for the 2022 World Cup against Iraq.
The probable composition
LP
Iran are expected to come in a 4-3-3 formation with their stars on the attacking front.
It remains to be seen how Carlos Queizor will organize all this offensive power.
Moving Taremi to the left side?
