A US-born player is officially headed to the 2014 World Cup with Iran's national team.
Vancouver Whitecaps fullback Steven Beitashour has survived the cuts and is among the 23 players who will go to Brazil this month for Iran. Although coach Carlos Queiroz is awaiting news regarding the injury status of one of his players, defender Hashem Beikzadeh, and has not finalized his 23-man roster as of Monday, Beitashour's place is assured. If Beikzadeh is ruled out, Mohammad-Reza Khanzadeh, who will travel to Brazil with the squad, will replace him.
Beitashour, born in California to Iranian parents, received his first call-up to Team Melli in October 2013. Despite joining the squad recently, after choosing between Iran and the USMNT, the 27-year-old is on his way to his first World Cup.
Iran will be playing in Group F, where they will face group favorites Argentina in addition to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nigeria.
GOALKEEPERS (3)
Rahman Ahmadi (Sepahan - Iran/33 yrs)
Alireza Haghighi (Sporting Covilha - Portugal/26 yrs)
Daniel Davari (Eintracht Braunschweig - Germany/26 yrs)
DEFENDERS (8)
Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis - Iran/32 yrs)
Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan - Iran/24 yrs)
Khosro Heydari (Esteghlal - Iran/30 yrs)
Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal - Qatar/30 yrs)
Hossein Mahini (Persepolis - Iran/27 yrs)
Mehrdad Pouladi (Persepolis - Iran/27 yrs)
Hashem Beikzadeh (Esteghlal - Iran/30 yrs)
Amir Hossein Sadeghi (Esteghlal - Iran/32 yrs)
Ahmad Alenemeh (Naft Tehran - Iran/31 yrs)
Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps - Canada/27 yrs)
MIDFIELDERS (7)
Javad Nekounam (Al-Kuwait - Kuwait/33 yrs)
Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal - Iran/31 yrs)
Masoud Shojaei (Las Palmas - Spain/30 yrs)
Ghasem Hadadifar (Zob Ahan - Iran/30 yrs)
Ashkan Dejagah (Fulham - England/27 yrs)
Reza Haghighi (Persepolis - Iran/25 yrs)
Bakhtiar Rahmani (Foolad - Iran/22 yrs)
FORWARDS (3)
Karim Ansarifard (Tractor Sazi - Iran/24 yrs)
Reza Ghoochannejhad (Charlton Athletic - England/26 yrs)
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (NEC - Netherlands/20 yrs)
