Iran to kick off 2026 Volleyball Nations League campaign amid tough week 1 challenges
Tehran - BORNA - Having finished eighth in the preliminary round last year, Iran enters the tournament aiming for a stronger placement and qualification for the final round. Under the guidance of Italian head coach Roberto Piazza, who took direct charge of training camps in Iran on May 23, the national team traveled early to Brazil for a preparatory camp. During the camp, Iran played a five-set friendly match against Brazil, narrowly losing 3-2.
Iran faces formidable opponents in the first week, with Brazil, Bulgaria, Argentina, and Belgium all deploying key players. Brazil's roster includes stars like Darlan Souza, Ricardo Lucarelli, and Douglas Souza. Argentina has traveled to Brazil with key names such as Luciano De Cecco, though Agustin Loser, Pablo Kukartsev, and Luciano Palonsky are absent for the first week. Bulgaria features the Nikolov brothers, while Belgium fields Seppe Rotty and Ferre Reggers, both of whom have previously worked under Piazza.
The Iranian squad consists of Arshia Behnezhad, Omran Kookjili, Ali Hajipour, Pouya Ariakhah, Amir Mohammad Golzadeh, Morteza Sharifi, Poriya Hossein Khanzadeh, Mobin Nasri, Ali Haghparast, Amirhossein Esfandiar, Mohammad Valizadeh, Yousef Kazemi, Seyed Eisa Naseri, Armin Ghelichniazi, Mohammad Reza Hazratpour, and Hossein Hajikalateh.
A notable omission from the squad is star opposite spiker Amin Esmaeilnezhad. Esmaeilnezhad suffered an injury prior to the 2025 World Championship and was released from the camp by Coach Piazza as he has not yet regained full fitness. Ali Hajipour, Pouya Ariakhah, and Amir Mohammad Golzadeh are expected to fill his vacancy.
Regarding the tournament schedule, the Iranian national team will begin its week 1 matches early Thursday, June 11, by facing hosts Brazil at 2:30 AM Tehran time, followed by a match against Bulgaria later that same day at 11:00 PM. Iran will then play Argentina on Saturday, June 13, at 2:30 AM, before concluding the opening week against Belgium on Sunday, June 14, at 5:30 PM Tehran time.
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