Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei insists his side's unbeaten record at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will stand as one of football's most remarkable stories — given the extraordinary obstacles the squad had to overcome before and during the tournament.

Iran opened their Group G campaign with a draw against New Zealand before holding a 10-man Belgium to a goalless stalemate on Sunday. The back-to-back results leave them firmly in contention ahead of their final group fixture.

War, cancelled friendlies, and visa restrictions

Iran's road to the World Cup was shaped by hardship from the very beginning. A state of conflict with tournament co-hosts United States cast serious doubt over whether the team would even participate, while multiple opposition sides pulled out of friendly matches, robbing Iran of vital preparation time.