The head coach of the Turkmenistan national football team, Mergen Orazov, made five changes to the team preparing for the return game with Iran as part of the 2026 World Cup qualifying round.

Arkadag goalkeeper Rahat Japarov, defenders Yhlas Toyjanov and Meylis Durdyev, as well as midfielders Velmurad Ballakov and Begench Akmamedov have been called to the national team’s location, the press service of the Turkmen team reported.

The called-up players will replace the injured Ruslan Mingazov, Rasul Charyev, Vepa Jumayev, Hakmuhammet Byashimov and Dovran Hojamammedov.

The return match between Turkmenistan and Iran will take place on March 26 at the Ashgabat stadium in the capital. The meeting is scheduled to start at 20:00 local time. Tickets for the match can be purchased at the arena box office daily from 9:00 to 21:00. The entrance ticket costs 30 manats.

The refereeing team for this match will be headed by 36-year-old referee from Thailand Sivakorn Pu-udom. The assistant referees will be Ravut Nakarit and Tanate Chuchuen, also representing Thailand.

Thormphong Somsing has been appointed as reserve referee.

After three played rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament, the Turkmenistan national team takes 4th place in Group E. At the start of the qualification, Turkmen football players lost at home to Uzbekistan 1:3, then drew 2:2 away from Hong Kong and were defeated with a score of 0:5 in the away match against Iran.