Roozbeh Cheshmi, the 32-year-old captain of Esteghlal FC and a key defensive midfielder for Iran’s national football team, will not take the pitch for Iran’s opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup against New Zealand. A left hamstring strain sustained during pre-tournament training in Antalya, Turkey has ended his World Cup hopes before the competition even begins.
The injury occurred during a training session between May 20 and 22, and subsequent MRI assessments confirmed the severity. Iran’s coaching staff and medical team monitored his recovery through early June, but the timeline simply did not cooperate.
A cruel pattern repeats itself
This marks the second time Cheshmi has been forced to watch a World Cup from the sidelines due to injury. He missed the 2018 tournament in Russia after suffering a separate muscle issue during the buildup to that competition.
Iran’s Group G opener against New Zealand is scheduled for June 15, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
