Iranian coach Carlos Queiroz has named his 28-man preliminary World Cup squad ahead of the start of the competition. The final 23-man squad is expected to be named by June 2 which is the deadline given by the world governing body FIFA.
The squad has two English league-based players; Fulham Midfielder Ashkan Dejagah and Charlton striker Reza Ghoochannejhad. The team was drawn in Group F with Argentina, Bosnia and Nigeria.
The team has appointed former Arsenal midfielder Edu to assist the former assistant coach of Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson; Carlos Queiroz for the summer World Cup in Brazil. Edu is currently the general manager of Brazilian club Corinthians who will host Iran for the pre-tournament training camp.
IRAN’S 28-MAN PRELIMINARY SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP
Goalkeepers – Daniel Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig), Alireza Haghighi (Sporting Covilha, on loan from Rubin Kazan), Rahman Ahmadi (Sepahan), Sousha Makani (Foolad Khuzestan).
Defenders – Khosro Heidari (Esteghlal), Hossein Mahini (Persepolis), Steven “Mehrdad” Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps), Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal), Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Amir Sadeghi (Esteghlal), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Zob Ahan), Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft), Hashem Beikzadeh (Esteghlal), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Mehrdad Pooladi (Persepolis).
Midfielders – Javad Nekounam (Al Kuwait), Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal), Reza Haghighi (Persepolis), Ghasem Hadadifar (Zob Ahan), Bakhtiyar Rahmani (Foolad), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC Nijmegen), Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham).
Forwards – Masoud Shojaei (Las Palmas), Mohammad Reza Khalatbari (Persepolis), Mehdi Sharifi (Sepahan), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton), Karim Ansarifard (Persepolis, on loan at Tractor Sazi), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan).