Iran have decided to continue their faith in coach Amir Ghalenoei after an inspiring 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, extending his contract until the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has confirmed that Ghalenoei will remain in charge after reviewing its plans for the continental tournament, according to a Reuters report.“Mr. Ghalenoei will remain the coach of the national team,” Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj told the Tehran Times. “We have already received their plans for the AFC Asian Cup.”Taj also confirmed that preparations for the next FIFA international window will begin soon, with further developments expected in 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 in the group stage despite going unbeaten.
Three draws, no KO points for Team Melli
Iran were placed in Group G and produced a resilient performance against some of the best teams in the world, recording three consecutive draws. However, their tally of three points was not enough to secure one of the eight spots available for the top third teams.Iran opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand before holding Belgium to a goalless stalemate. Their final group game 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 off the field. Due to visa complications, Iran based his training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than in the United States. The team had to make repeated cross-border trips for games in Los Angeles and Seattle.The players also carried the emotional burden of representing a country dealing with conflict at home, making their unbeaten run even more meaningful.
Experienced Ghalenoei in charge of the Asian Cup challenge
Ghalenoei, 62, is one of Iran’s most experienced coaches and is currently serving his second spell with the national team. He previously led Team Melli between 2006 and 2007, leading Iran to the quarter-finals of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.After returning as coach in 2023, he led 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 were 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.