Football

Iran nominate German footballer into national team squad

21.03.2026, 11:36

German forward Dennis Eckert Ayensa is been called up into Iran's national team as part of a 35-player squad for what are supposed to be World Cup tune-up matches, Iran's governing body FFI has said.

A statement said that Ayensa can play for the country once he gets the go-ahead from the ruling body FIFA. Iran are set to play Nigeria and Costa Rica in Turkey.

Ayensa's father is of Iranian descent and his mother ist from Spain. Irianian actress Anahita Dargahi is is aunt. He has played one U19 international for Germany.

Ayensa, 29, has played for Ingolstadt in the German second and third tier, for Spain's Celta Vigo and is now at Belgian side Standard Liege.

It remains unclear whether Iran will play at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada in summer after the start of US and Israel air strikes against the country. The FFI wants their group stage matches moved from the US to Mexico.