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Why you should watch every team at the 2018 World Cup

By Harrison Hamm

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Ecuador during their 2018 World Cup qualifier football match in Quito, on October 10, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Juan Ruiz (Photo credit should read JUAN RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring against Ecuador during their 2018 World Cup qualifier football match in Quito, on October 10, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Juan Ruiz (Photo credit should read JUAN RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images) /
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KOCHI, INDIA – OCTOBER 22: The Iran team line up for a team picture during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 Quarter Final match between Spain and Iran at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Kochi, India. (Photo by Jan Kruger – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
KOCHI, INDIA – OCTOBER 22: The Iran team line up for a team picture during the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 Quarter Final match between Spain and Iran at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Kochi, India. (Photo by Jan Kruger – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) /

Iran

Their World Cup chances may not be the consequential news item of the day, but Iran’s national soccer team is quietly one of the most consistent in the Asian region: 2018 will be their fourth World Cup in six cycles, and after smooth sailing in AFC qualifying, confidence is high for the prominent Middle Eastern power.

Under the experienced control of Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, they went undefeated in 14 qualifying games, cruising through a weak second round and winning their third round group so fast that they became the first non-Russia team to officially qualify. Rubin Kazan forward Sardar Azmoun, 23, was tied for the second-most overall goals (with Tim Cahill).

Queiroz leads an increasingly international squad. To go along with a strong domestic group, such countries as England, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden host potential Iranian World Cup contributors. This is a welcome departure from previous, more heavily domestic rosters.

Olympiacos midfielder Ehsan Hajsafi, AZ Alkmaar winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Ashkan Dejagh of Nottingham Forest join Azmoun as the top foreign-based players. Also keep an eye on forward Mehdi Taremi, who earned a profitable move from Persepolis to Qatari club Al Gharafa with a prolific goal-scoring record in Iran.

36-year-old Persepolis captain Jalal Hosseini, who’s been around since the 2007 Asian Cup, leads the Persian Gulf Pro League contingent alongside a few of his teammates at Tehran’s most popular club. And LAFC full-back Steven Beitashour will be welcomed back into the fray after spending time away from the national team.

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