Germany-born forward Dennis Dargahi has joined the Iranian national soccer team ahead of their Group G World Cup match against Belgium on June 21, 2026, following a complex ancestry validation process.
The 29-year-old Standard Liege attacker, formerly known as Dennis Eckert, secured his Iranian passport in May 2026 after a yearlong genealogical verification.
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Discovery via Social Media
Dargahi's eligibility came to light after his aunt, prominent Iranian actress Anahita, posted a family photo on social media.
The post prompted fans to inquire about his background.
"People asked me, 'Are you Iranian and is your aunt Anahita?' And I said, yes.
And yes, she's my aunt. That's how life is," Dargahi said on the Gol Bezan podcast.
Iranian law requires direct paternal lineage for citizenship.
Since his late grandfather was the last passport holder, Dargahi's father traveled to Tehran to provide DNA samples matching his aunt.
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Dargahi noted that his lineage would have remained unknown without his aunt's fame.
"I think if she wasn't famous, nobody would ever know that I'm Iranian, but my body is Iranian blood, and I can't hide that," he said.
He previously represented Germany at the under-19 level. Communication with the Iranian federation stalled during paperwork collection, but his aunt helped navigate bureaucratic hurdles.
"Anahita helped me so much, with documents and everything. She's a person with such a big heart," Dargahi said.
Iran opened their tournament campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand.
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Dargahi's inclusion highlights a broader trend: according to ESPN, 288 of 1,248 World Cup players qualify for nations outside their birth countries.
