It isn’t all plain sailing for England, though, with several players under injury clouds ahead of the first game.
Iran too have important players facing a race against time to be fit, with captain Ehsan Hajsafi also being caught up in the political situation back at home.
Below are the confirmed lineups for both teams ahead of the match.
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England starting 11
Gareth Southgate has kept faith with Harry Maguire and Raheem Sterling. Both have been fine servants to his England side but are lacking form at club level. Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka will support Sterling and captain Harry Kane in attack, meaning Phil Foden has to settle for a place on the bench,
England (4-3-3 right to left): 1. Pickford (GK) — 12. Trippier, 5. Stones, 6. Maguire, 3. Shaw — 22. Bellingham, 4. Rice, 19. Mount — 17. Saka, 9. Kane, 10. Sterling
Iran starting 11
As expected, Iran boss Carlos Quieroz has gone for what looks like a defensive setup on paper. The plan will be to keep it tight and take the game deep, at which point Sardar Azmoun might appear from the bench. Until then, Porto striker Mehdi Taremi will plough a lone furrow up front.
Iran (5-4-1, right to left): 1. Beiranvand (GK) — 2. Moharrami, 15. Cheshmi, 19. Hosseini, 8. Pouraliganji 5. Mohammadi — 7. Jahanbakhsh, 3. Hajsafi, 18. Karimi, 21. Nourollahi — 9. Taremi
England vs Iran team news
For this opening game, England will be without Kyle Walker, who ruled himself out as he makes his way back from groin surgery, while James Maddison also won’t be risked for the opener. Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold were the prime candidates to replace the Man City right-back.
Iran were waiting on the fitness of their star striker Sardar Azmoun. The prolific striker hasn’t played for club side Bayer Leverkusen since the end of September with a calf tear, and he missed their warm up match against Nicaragua on November 10.
England vs Iran World Cup squads
Here are the 26 names on England’s current World Cup squad in Qatar:
And the 26 players currently in Iran’s World Cup squad:
