By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA

Iran will look to advance from the Word Cup group stage for the first time in their history.

They will face Spain, Portugal and Morocco in Group B.

Under Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz, Iran booked their ticket to Russia after remaining undefeated in the qualifying group stages.

Iran were the first team from the Asian continent to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

23-year-old Sardar Azmoun of FC Rubin Kazan and 24-year-old Saman Ghoddos of Ostersunds FK will be Iran's goal scoring threats.

The three-time Asia champions (1968, 1972, 1976) qualified for their fifth World Cup.

Iran's only win in the World Cup came in 1998 when they beat the United States 2-1.

Confirmed 23-men squad of Iran:

Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Rashid Mazaheri (Zob Ahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Maritimo)

Defenders: Roozbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Ehsan Haji Safi (Olympiacos), Morteza Pouraliganji (Alsaad), Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny), Mohammad Khanzadeh (Padideh), Pejman Montazeri (Esteghlal), Majid Hosseini (Esteghlal), Ramin Rezaeian (Ostende)

Midfielders: Mahdi Torabi (Saipa), Saeid Ezatolahi (Amkar Perm), Masoud Shojaei (AEK), Omid Ebrahimi (Esteghlal), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis)

Forwards: Karim Ansarifard (Olympiacos), Saman Ghoddos (Ostersunds), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen), Mahdi Taremi (Al-Gharafa), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan), Ashkan Dejageh (Nottingham Forest)

Manager: Carlos Queiroz