Amir Ghalenoei
Iran national football team head coach; attended Antalya FIFA talks alongside the FFIRI delegation.
Last refreshed: 15 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
If Iran's politicians say no but the coach and players want to go, who actually decides?
Timeline for Amir Ghalenoei
Attended Antalya meeting as Iran head coach
2026 FIFA World Cup: Infantino tells Iran in Antalya: you will play- Who is Iran's World Cup coach?
- Amir Ghalenoei has been Iran's head coach since 2023. He attended Antalya talks with FIFA president Infantino in March–April 2026 as part of Iran's delegation on the participation question.
- What group is Iran in at the 2026 World Cup?
- Iran is in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with all matches scheduled at US venues.
Background
Amir Ghalenoei attended the Antalya meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino on 31 March and 1 April 2026 alongside FFIRI president Omid Jamali and secretary general Mehdi Mohammed Nabi. His presence was notable: the head coach's inclusion in a high-level FIFA negotiation suggests the delegation wanted to convey the practical football dimension of the participation question, not just the political one. Infantino told the delegation 'Iran will be at the World Cup'.
Ghalenoei was appointed Iran national team head coach in 2023 after a coaching career that included Club Al-Qadisiyyah and Esteghlal FC in Iran's Pro League. He previously represented Iran as a player in the 1998 World Cup. His Iran squad is assigned to Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, with all matches in US venues.
For Ghalenoei, the World Cup participation debate is both a political and professional existential question. Coaching a team at a World Cup is the career summit; withdrawal would deny him and his squad that opportunity. His presence in Antalya signals that the coaching staff is actively lobbying for participation, adding internal federation pressure alongside the diplomatic channel.