News ID: 545

Date: 05 January 2026 - 13:21

FFIRI Newspaper | NO.288

Hosseinnezhad: We Move Forward With Planning, Hope and Unity

Iran U-23 midfielder Mohammadjavad Hosseinnezhad said the team is approaching the AFC U-23 Asian Cup with strong planning, high morale and a united spirit aimed at delivering positive results for the country.

Speaking to the Federation Daily ahead of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, Hosseinnezhad commented on the national team’s training camp following the friendly match against China and before the start of the continental tournament. He highlighted the players’ strong motivation and the positive atmosphere within the camp, expressing optimism about achieving good results for Iran.

“After a productive training camp in Dubai and a beneficial friendly match against China, the team’s conditions are fortunately very good,” Hosseinnezhad said. “Training sessions are being held with high intensity, and all the players are gathered with a shared goal of success for Iran.”

He praised the technical staff of the U-23 national team, describing them as knowledgeable and highly motivated. “In my view, the coaching staff is very competent and can be a great help to us on this path. All of us players have made a collective commitment to give our best through hard work and unity, and God willing, leave this tournament with positive outcomes,” he added.

Hosseinnezhad also addressed the difficulty of Iran’s group at the tournament, noting that it includes some of Asia’s strongest sides. “Our group is naturally a tough one. Teams like South Korea and Uzbekistan are among the continent’s top teams. South Korea has a distinct playing style, and Uzbekistan has shown remarkable progress in recent years, especially at youth levels. This reflects the high standard of the competition, where there are no easy matches at national-team level,” he said.

He continued by emphasizing that all participating teams enter the tournament with clear structures and plans. “Every team comes into these competitions well prepared, and we are also training based on the tactical programs set by our coaching staff. We hope to achieve the best possible result.”

In closing, Hosseinnezhad once again commended the U-23 coaching staff, led by head coach Reza Ravankhah. “We have a very technical and professional coaching staff, headed by Mr. Ravankhah, a young, knowledgeable and motivated coach who can greatly support us as young players. I hope that with this staff and this group of players, we can deliver our best performance,”