Carlos Queiroz and the 2014 World Cup: A Mission Cut Short by a Messi Goal
In 2014, Carlos Queiroz was the coach of the Iranian national team in the World Cup in Brazil. Iran was grouped with Argentina, Nigeria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group F. However, the team faced several challenges before the start of the tournament, including a lack of training matches, financial restrictions, and less-than-ideal training camps.
The Performance of Queiroz's Team
In the first match, the national team drew 0-0 against Nigeria, marking Iran's first clean sheet in World Cup history. In the second match, Queiroz's team showed a strong performance against Argentina, holding off Lionel Messi until the 91st minute, but the Argentine superstar scored a stunning goal in the final minutes, ending Iran's hopes of securing a historic point.
Iran's Record in the 2014 World Cup
Iran's record in the 2014 World Cup was 0-0 against Nigeria, 0-1 against Argentina, and 1-3 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, earning a total of one point. Reza Ghoochannejhad scored Iran's only goal in the tournament.
The Legacy of the 2014 World Cup
Although Iran failed to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in its history, many experts consider the team's performance in Brazil to be one of the best in Iranian football history. The team's 90-minute resistance against Argentina, its first clean sheet in World Cup history, and the introduction of new players like Alireza Jahanbakhsh, were among the tournament's most notable achievements.
Recent Form
Iran is currently unbeaten in its last five matches (DDDDW). The team's last result was a 1-1 draw against Egypt on June 27, 2026.
List of Players
Queiroz took the following players to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup: Goalkeepers: Alireza Haghighi, Rahman Ahmadi, Daniel Davari. Defenders: Jalal Hosseini, Amir Hossein Sadeghi, Pejman Montazeri, Mehdi Poladi, Hossein Mahini, Ahmad Al-Nemr, Hashem Beigom, Steven Beitashour. Midfielders: Javad Nekounam (captain), Andranik Teymourian, Reza Haghighi, Ghasem Hadadifard, Ehsan Hajsafi, Bakhtiar Rahmani. Forwards: Ashkan Dejagah, Masoud Shojaei, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Karim Ansarifard, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, and Khasroo Heidari.
Style of Play: Defensive Organization and Counterattack
Queiroz had built a team that relied heavily on defensive organization, endurance, pressure on the lines, and counterattack. Although some critics described this style as overly cautious, it proved effective in the match against Argentina, with many international media outlets praising Iran's tactical performance.
Queiroz's Salary and Bonus
According to a Forbes report, Carlos Queiroz earned a salary of around $2.98 million in the 2014 World Cup, making him the 13th highest-paid coach in the tournament. There has been no official report on Queiroz receiving a bonus for Iran's performance in the 2014 World Cup.
