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FIFA 2026: Group G under shadow of US–Iran conflict

All of Iran’s group-stage matches will be played on American soil.

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FIFA 2026: Group G under shadow of US–Iran conflict

KATHMANDU: Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, Iran’s participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the United States has been confirmed, with the team placed in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt.

Notably, all of Iran’s group-stage matches will be played on American soil.

Iran will begin its campaign against New Zealand on June 16 in Los Angeles, followed by a high-profile clash against Belgium on June 22, also in Los Angeles. Their final group match will be played against Egypt on June 27 in Seattle.

Earlier in March, Iran reportedly held discussions with FIFA about relocating its group-stage matches to Mexico due to security concerns linked to the conflict situation.

However, FIFA rejected the proposal and retained the original schedule, confirming all fixtures in the United States.

The Iran–Egypt fixture in Seattle had already sparked controversy even before the tournament, as it coincides with LGBTQ Pride Week events in the city.

Both teams had reportedly raised objections to FIFA over the match being labeled as a “Pride Match,” citing religious and cultural concerns. Same-sex relations are strictly prohibited in Iran, with laws allowing severe punishment.

Iran

Iran enters the tournament as one of Asia’s football powerhouses, marking its fourth consecutive and seventh overall World Cup appearance. However, the team has never progressed beyond the group stage.

Currently ranked 21st in the FIFA rankings, Iran is coached by Amir Ghalenoei. The team lost only one match during the Asian qualifiers, showcasing strong form.

Captain Mehdi Taremi remains Iran’s key figure, with 57 goals in 102 international appearances. The forward, formerly of FC Porto and Inter Milan, currently plays for Olympiacos. Alongside him, midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who plays club football in Belgium, is also expected to play a crucial role.

Iran’s preparations have been impacted by the conflict situation, with adjustments made to training arrangements. Initially planned in Arizona, the training camp has now been relocated to Mexico.

Iran Squad:

Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand, Seyed Hossein Hosseini, Payam Niazmand
Defenders: Daniel Eiri, Ehsan Hajsafi, Saleh Hardani, Hossein Kanani, Shoja Khalilzadeh, Milad Mohammadi, Ali Nemati, Ramin Rezaeian
Midfielders: Roozbeh Cheshmi, Saeid Ezatolahi, Mehdi Ghaedi, Saman Ghoddos, Mohammad Ghorbani, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Mohammad Mohebi, Amir Mohammad Raghaghini, Mehdi Torabi, Arya Yousefi
Forwards: Ali Alipour, Denis Darghahi, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, Mehdi Taremi, Shahriar Moghanlou
Coach: Amir Ghalenoei

Belgium

Belgium enters Group G as the strongest paper contender, boasting a squad filled with world-class talent. This will be their 15th World Cup appearance, with their best finish coming in 2018 when they reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions France.

In the previous edition in Qatar, Belgium failed to progress beyond the group stage, making this tournament an important opportunity for redemption.

The squad features rising star Jeremy Doku of Manchester City and experienced midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who recently returned from a thigh injury. De Bruyne, playing in his fourth World Cup, has scored 36 international goals in 117 appearances.

However, the participation of striker Romelu Lukaku remains uncertain due to ongoing hamstring issues.

Under coach Rudi Garcia, Belgium recently defeated the United States 5–2 in a friendly match held in the USA. Their World Cup campaign begins on June 15 against Egypt in Seattle.

Belgium Squad:

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Senne Lammens, Mike Penders
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Zeno Debast, Maxim De Cuyper, Koni De Winter, Brandon Mechele, Thomas Meunier, Nathan Ngoy, Joaquin Seys, Arthur Theate
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel
Forwards: Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Matias Fernandez Pardo, Romelu Lukaku, Dodi Lukebakio, Diego Moreira, Alexis Saelemaekers, Leandro Trossard
Coach: Rudi Garcia

Egypt

Egypt, despite three previous World Cup appearances, has yet to register a single win in the tournament. Their last campaign in 2018 ended in disappointment, with star forward Mohamed Salah unable to feature in the opening match due to injury.

Egypt lost all three group matches in that tournament, falling to Uruguay, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

Veteran striker Hossam Hassan, the country’s all-time leading scorer with 69 goals, now leads the team as head coach.

All eyes will once again be on Mohamed Salah, widely regarded as Egypt’s greatest footballer. He recently announced plans to leave Liverpool after the current season, adding further attention to his World Cup journey.

Egypt’s preparations have also seen controversy, including a goalless draw against Spain in a friendly match earlier this year.

Egypt Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohamed El Shenawy, Mostafa Shobeir, El Mehdi Soliman
Defenders: Mohamed Hany, Tarek El A, Hamdy Fathi, Rami Rabia, Yasser Ibrahim, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Ahmed Fattouh, Karim Hafez
Midfielders: Marwan Attia, Mohanad Lasheen, Nabil Emad, Mahmoud Saber, Ahmed Zizo, Imam Ashour, Mustafa Ziko, Mahmoud Trezeguet, Ibrahim Adel, Hameisem Hassan
Forwards: Omar Marmoush, Mohamed Salah, Akte Abdallah, Hamza Abdelkarim
Coach: Hossam Hassan

New Zealand

New Zealand enters the World Cup as the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, currently placed 85th in the FIFA rankings. This will be their third World Cup appearance, having previously participated in 1982 and 2010 without advancing beyond the group stage.

Coach Darren Bazeley has been in charge since 2022, aiming to guide the team through a highly competitive group.

Captain Chris Wood remains the team’s biggest hope, having scored 45 international goals. However, his participation has been uncertain due to injury, as he has not featured for Nottingham Forest in recent months.

New Zealand Squad:

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud
Defenders: Tim Payne, Francis De Vries, Taylor Bindon, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace, Nando Pijnaker, Finn Surman, Callan Elliott, Tommy Smith
Midfielders: Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Marko Stamenic, Sarpreet Singh, Alex Rufer, Ryan Thomas
Forwards: Chris Wood, Eli Just, Kosta Barbarouses, Ben Waine, Ben Old, Callum McCowatt, Jesse Randall, Lachlan Bellis
Coach: Darren Bazeley