Ramin Rezaeian

Ramin Rezaeian is a vastly experienced right-back for IR Iran, a defender who has spent years on the right of the back line and offers a genuine threat going forward. The Foolad full-back is 36 at kick-off and has been named in Amir Ghalenoei's provisional squad for what would be a third World Cup campaign.

IR Iran qualified as winners of their Asian group on 25 March 2025 and are drawn with New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G. Rezaeian has 68 caps and six international goals, an unusual return for a defender, and his deliveries from the right give Ghalenoei an outlet in attack. With the final 26 still to be confirmed, his place will be settled closer to the tournament.

Rezaeian is an attacking right-back whose game is built on getting forward down the right and putting balls into the box. He overlaps to support the attack, delivers from wide areas and dead balls, and drops back into the back four when IR Iran defend in numbers. His six international goals are a high tally for a full-back and reflect a habit of arriving in dangerous areas.

In Ghalenoei's 4-2-3-1, a side that sits deep and counters, the full-backs are a route to width and crosses. Rezaeian's years on the right fit that job, balancing his attacking output with the work behind it.

From right-back, Rezaeian offers more going forward than most defenders, having scored a stoppage-time goal against Wales at the 2022 World Cup and reached six for his country. His team is a Tier 4 side, each slot costing £10m within the game's £200m card budget. In Group G they meet Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand across the opening fortnight. For a defender at this price, his set-piece delivery and forward runs are the way he can chip in.