How they got there: Round 2 Group E winners

2022 AFC Asian Qualifiers Record: Qualified for Qatar 2022 after finishing top of Group A in Round 3

Previous FIFA World Cup appearances: 6

Head Coach: Amir Ghalenoei (IRN)

Fun Fact: Iran will be appearing at this stage of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the sixth consecutive edition

Splendid showings at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ and the second round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers have raised the expectations of Iran supporters and head coach Amir Ghalenoei is well aware that his squad are expected to take their place among the world's elite sides when Canada, Mexico and the United States co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“We have a series of goals and based on that, we move forward,” said the 60-year-old. “The fact that when we drew with a good Uzbekistan team (in the second round) and people were unhappy shows that we are moving faster and we should respect everyone's opinion.

“Our task is to play very well, and I promise we will play better in the next stage, where we will fix the conditions and the weaknesses.”

Qualifying unbeaten for the third round and firmly positioned as one of the four best ranked Asian nations in the FIFA World Rankings mean a seventh FIFA World Cup appearance is expected, rather then hoped for.

The three-time AFC Asian Cup™ winners have made a habit of securing their FIFA World Cup spots bright and early, booking their place at Russia 2018 with two matches to spare - having not conceded even once in their first nine matches.

In taking their place at Qatar 2022, Iran were equally unstoppable as they won six of their opening seven matches to qualify with three games to spare and Ghalenoei will be looking to his charges to produce the same spirit this time around.