Nickname: Team Melli
Fixtures: June 15 vs. Morocco, June 20 vs. Spain, June 25 vs. Portugal
Appearances: 4 (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014)
FIFA ranking: 36
Best finish: Group stage exit all four times
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Iran was the second team to qualify for the World Cup, behind Brazil. Asia's top-ranked side cruised through the qualifying campaign, remaining undefeated and confirming its World Cup spot with two games to spare. Queiroz, who took charge in 2011, is now Iran's longest-serving coach, and will hope to lead the side into the knock-outs for the first time in its history. The draw has not been kind, grouping Iran alongside Spain, Portugal and Morocco. It is imperative for the team to win the opening game, against Morocco, if it is to get out of the group.
The defence remained solid throughout qualifying, Iran not conceding a goal until the tenth and final match of the campaign. The team will look to be resolute at the back and make the most of its talented forwards to hurt teams on the counter. The preliminary squad of 24 has a dozen Europe-based players, including Ashkan Dejagaah (Nottingham Forest) and Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen), former German and Dutch youth internationals respectively. Key midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi is suspended for the first game.
With political and financial issues, Iran has been unable to play top teams in friendlies. Queiroz will hope, though, that his men do better than 2014, when a last-gasp Lionel Messi goal ended their knock-out hopes.
The goal-poacher
AZ Alkmaar's Alireza Jahanbakhsh was the Eredivisie's top-scorer this season, his 21 goals making him the first Asian to earn that honour in a major European league. The 24-year-old, who hails from Jirandeh in the mountains in northern Iran, is more a winger than a striker, but there is no doubting his finishing ability. He is quick and is likely to start on the right side of a front three.
The orchestrator
The hype around Sardar Azmoun may seem excessive but the 23-year-old, dubbed the 'Iranian Messi', is one of the finest players to have emerged from his country. The Rubin Kazan striker was Iran's highest scorer in qualifying, scoring seven times in the Third Round. He does not just possess great close control and trickery, but is also a fine header of the ball.
Did you know: Masoud Shojaei and Ehsan Haji Safi, both of whom play for Greek club Panionios, were said to 'have no place in Iran’s national football team any more' after appearing in a game against Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League's third qualifying round. But they were supported by current and former players, and were eventually included in the squad.
Number stat: 22: The number of international goals netted by Sardar Azmoun, making him Iran's fifth-highest scorer of all time.
Coach quote: "The team in Brazil was mature, experienced and cool. This team is more electric, enthusiastic and risky."
