Ehsan Hajsafi
Squad number 3 · Sepahan
Their 2026 World Cup
Ehsan Hajsafi travelled to the 2026 World Cup with Iran, wearing number 3, without ever getting on the pitch. His side played 3 matches (3 draws) and bowed out in the group stage (Group G), beaten by Egypt 1-1.
Defence went to R. Rezaeian (3 matches, 270′) and S. Khalilzadeh (3 matches, 270′).
Another 9 players in the Iran squad ended up the same way, without a single minute. The full run is on the Iran team page.
Biography
Ehsan Hajsafi (Persian: احسان حاج صفی; born 25 February 1990) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays for Sepahan and the Iran national team. Hajsafi is regarded as a utility player, being able to play as a winger, left-back or defensive midfielder. In 2009, Hajsafi was selected by Goal.com as the most promising player in Asian football. Hajsafi has represented Iran at the 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions of the FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 AFC Asian Cup tournaments.
Hajsafi started his career in Zob Ahan in 2000 and left the club in 2006, joining Sepahan. He was found at the Sepahan youth academy by Luka Bonačić. Hajsafi played two matches from the start in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup and has been a regular for Sepahan during recent seasons. Sepahan came second in the 2007 AFC Champions League. Ehsan takes set pieces for Sepahan and plays both in central and left midfield, having scored six league goals for Sepahan in the 2007–08 season.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · text adapted from the article.
See all the tournament stats on the World Cup data hub.
Photo: مهدی مریزاد · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)