Dargahi's path to Iran team is another example of how diaspora fuels the World Cup (opens original article in a new tab)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup highlights the diaspora's role, with 23% of players born abroad, including Dennis Dargahi, who joined Iran through ancestry and social media.

• 23.07% of 1,248 World Cup players were born outside their represented country
• Dennis Dargahi secured Iranian citizenship through DNA testing and surname change after his aunt's social media post
• Iran's World Cup participation faced uncertainty due to Gulf conflict but is now active