Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the group-stage fixtures of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, Iran U-23 head coach Omidreza RavanKhaah underlined the competitiveness of the group and the challenge posed by their opening opponents.

“Strong and respectable teams are present in our group, and our first match will be against a very good and respected South Korea side,” RavanKhaah said.

Praising his own team, the head coach added: “We are a united and purpose-driven group. Our squad is made up of highly talented and quality players who are determined to deliver strong performances and achieve a meaningful success in this tournament.”

Commenting on the upcoming match against South Korea, RavanKhaah noted that consistency can be a challenge at this age level. “At the U-23 level, team performances can vary from one match to another. Few teams manage to maintain a stable technical trend. South Korea are always a respected and serious contender, especially in this tournament. That said, our main focus is on our own game plan, confidence and quality.”

Iran U-23 captain Mohammad Javad Hosseinnezhad also spoke at the press conference, emphasizing the team’s step-by-step approach. “We have entered the competition with a clear objective and will move forward match by match. Our aim is to successfully get through the three group-stage games first, and then focus on the knockout rounds.”

Reflecting on Iran’s successful qualification campaign, Hosseinnezhad added: “We came through the previous stage successfully and we are fully aware of the strength of our team and the quality of our players. This gives us confidence and helps raise the overall level of the Iranian team.”

Group Stage Schedule – Iran U-23:

• 17 Dey: Iran vs. South Korea – 15:00, Al Shabab Stadium, Riyadh

• 20 Dey: Iran vs. Uzbekistan – 17:30, King Fahd bin Faisal Stadium, Riyadh

• 23 Dey: Iran vs. Lebanon – 15:00, Al Shabab Stadium, Riyadh