Iran have decided to continue their faith in head coach Amir Ghalenoei after an inspiring FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, extending his contract until the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) confirmed that Ghalenoei will remain in charge after reviewing his plans for the continental tournament, according to a report by Reuters.“Mr Ghalenoei will remain the head coach of the national team,” Tehran Times quoted Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj as saying. “We have already received his plans for the AFC Asian Cup.”Taj also confirmed that preparations for the next FIFA international window would begin soon, with further developments planned across Iran’s national teams.The decision comes after Ghalenoei guided Iran through a challenging but memorable World Cup campaign in the United States, where Team Melli exited at the group stage despite remaining unbeaten.
Three draws, no knockout spot for Team Melli
Iran were placed in Group G and produced a resilient performance against some of the world’s best teams, recording three consecutive draws. However, their three-point tally was not enough to secure one of the eight available places for the best third-placed teams.Iran began their campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand before holding Belgium to a goalless stalemate. Their final group match ended in a 1-1 draw against Egypt, leaving them third in the standings and bringing their World Cup journey to an end.The campaign was particularly demanding away from the pitch. Due to visa-related complications, Iran based their training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than the United States. The squad had to make repeated cross-border journeys for matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.The players also carried the emotional weight of representing a country dealing with conflict at home, making their unbeaten run even more significant.
Experienced Ghalenoei tasked with Asian Cup challenge
The 62-year-old Ghalenoei is one of Iran’s most experienced coaches and is currently serving his second spell with the national team. He first led Team Melli between 2006 and 2007, taking Iran to the quarter-finals of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.After returning as head coach in 2023, he guided Iran to the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Cup, further strengthening his credentials.Iran, three-time Asian champions whose last continental title came in 1978, will now turn their attention towards the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. They have been drawn in Group C alongside Syria, Kyrgyzstan and China.The tournament will begin on January 7, with the final scheduled to take place in Riyadh on February 5.
