Iran declared their squad for the 2018 World Cup on Sunday, with two midfield stars making the cut regardless of being prohibited a year ago to play against an Israeli group. Masoud Shojaei and Ehsan Haji Safi were among the 35 players declared by Iran’s Football Federation on its site.
Games authorities said last August that Shojaei, 33, and Haji Safi, 28, would be prohibited for life in the wake of showing up for their Greek club Panionios against an Israeli group. Iran does not perceive the Jewish state and banishes its competitors from showing up against Israelis.
Iran’s national team has been coached the past seven years by Portugal’s Carlos Queiroz, a former one-season manager at Real Madrid and an assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Team Melli faces a tough group in the World Cup, with Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Iran had a strong run in qualifiers, becoming the first to book their place from the Asian Football Confederation. Shojaei will be making a record third appearance for Iran at the World Cup. He has remained vague about the Israel ban, but said in March he was pleased to return as “a soldier” for Team Melli.
Iran World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Seyed Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Rashid Mazaheri (Zob Ahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Maritimo/POR)
Defenders: Ramin Rezaeian (Ostende/BEL), Voria Ghafouri (Esteghlal), Steven Beitashour (Los Angeles FC/USA), Seyed Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Padideh), Morteza Pouraliganji (Alsaad/QAT), Mohammad Ansari (Persepolis), Pejman Montazeri (Esteghlal), Seyed Majid Hosseini (Esteghlal), Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny/RUS), Omid Nourafkan (Esteghlal), Saeid AGhaei (Sepahan), Roozbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal)
Midfielders: Saeid Ezatolahi (Amkar Perm/RUS), Masoud Shojaei (AEK Athens/GRE), Ahmad Abdolahzadeh (Foolad), Saman Ghoddos (Ostersunds/SWE), Mahdi Torabi (Saipa), Ashkan Dejagah (Notthingham Forest/ENG), Omid Ebrahimi (Esteghlal), Ehsan Hajsafi (Olympiacos/GRE), Ali Karimi (Sepahan), Soroush Rafiei (Al-khor/QAT), Ali Gholizadeh (Saipa), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis)
Forwards: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Karim Ansarifard (Olympiacos/RE), Mahdi Taremi (Al-Gharafa/QAT), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen/NED), Kaveh Rezaei (Charleroi/BEL)