Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei believes his team’s unbeaten start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be remembered for generations after the national side overcame extraordinary challenges to remain in contention for the knockout stages.
The Iranian coach said his players deserve immense recognition after navigating months of disruption, political uncertainty and travel difficulties before producing impressive performances against New Zealand and Belgium.
Iran opened their Group G campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand before following it with a hard-fought goalless draw against 10-man Belgium, leaving qualification for the knockout rounds within reach.
Their achievements, however, have come against a backdrop unlike anything previously experienced at a World Cup.
Iran’s participation in the tournament had been thrown into doubt following tensions involving tournament co-hosts the United States, while the country’s preparations were severely affected by the wider political situation.
“We were in war conditions for six months; we didn’t have our league operating,” Ghalenoei said.
“Many teams cancelled the games they would play against us. We came to the World Cup in the worst conditions possible.”
The difficulties have continued throughout the tournament.
Iran are currently based in Mexico and have been required to travel to the United States shortly before their matches before returning immediately after games because of visa restrictions.
The unusual arrangements have significantly reduced the amount of time available for training and recovery.
“We had less than 16 hours to do training before the game,” Ghalenoei explained.
Despite those limitations, Iran have remained unbeaten after two matches and now know that victory over Egypt in their final Group G fixture could secure a place in the knockout rounds.
The coach believes his players have already achieved something remarkable regardless of what happens next.
“The players who came to this World Cup in these conditions need to be congratulated,” he said.
“We had the opportunity to win against Belgium, but I think this is a great achievement.”
Iran’s disciplined defensive display against Belgium further strengthened belief within the squad, while their fighting comeback against New Zealand demonstrated the resilience that has become a defining characteristic of their campaign.
Captain Mehdi Taremi and several senior players have previously spoken about the emotional and logistical challenges facing the team, while Ghalenoei insists the current squad will occupy a special place in Iranian football history.
“This will be written in the history of our football and future generations will talk about what we have achieved,” he added.
Iran now head to Seattle for a decisive encounter against Egypt with their World Cup dream still alive.
For many observers, the team’s performances have already become one of the most compelling stories of the tournament.
And if Iran can overcome Egypt to reach the knockout stages, Ghalenoei’s belief that this squad will be remembered for generations may prove entirely justified.
