Carlos Queiroz has announced Iran's 23-man World Cup squad as he looks to steer the Asian nation to the knockout stages for the first time in their history.

Ali Gholizadeh, who attended a training camp in Turkey, was left out of Team Melli.

Queiroz, who took charge in April 2011 but will stand down after the tournament, had already sprung a surprise by leaving experienced defenders Jalal Hosseini and Vouria Ghaffouri out of his preliminary squad.

Iran, making their fifth appearance in the World Cup finals, kick off their campaign against Morocco in St Petersburg on June 15.

Team Melli, meanwhile, face Spain in Kazan on 20 June before meeting Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in Saransk five days later.

Iran's final 23-man World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Rashid Mazaheri (Zob Ahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Maritimo);

Defenders: Pejman Montazeri (Esteghlal), Seyed Majid Hosseini (Esteghlal), Roozbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny), Mohammad Reza Khanzadeh (Padideh),  Morteza Pouraliganji (Alsaad), Ramin Rezaeian (Ostende), Ehsan Hajsafi (Olympiacos);

Midfielders: Saeid Ezatolahi (Amkar Perm),  Masoud Shojaei (AEK Athens), Mahdi Torabi (Saipa), Omid Ebrahimi (Esteghlal), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Saman Ghoddos (Ostersunds), Ashkan Dejagah (Notthingham Forest);

Forwards: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ), Karim Ansarifard (Olympiacos), Mahdi Taremi (Al Gharafa), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan), Reza Ghoochannejhad (Heerenveen).