Shahr-e Qods Stadium selected for Esteghlal and Persepolis home matches

The Iranian Football League Organization has announced the venues for several matches during the opening weeks of the 26th league season. Major clubs Esteghlal and Persepolis are set to host several matches at the Shohada Shahr-e Qods Stadium.

Esteghlal is scheduled to begin their season at Shahr-e Qods against Mes Shahre Babak on August 14, followed by a high-profile match against Sepahan on September 1. Persepolis is also slated to use the venue for their upcoming fixtures. Other clubs, including Paykan and Esteghlal Khuzestan, will also utilize Pas Tehran for their matches.

Regarding squad availability, Esteghlal faces potential absences for their opening match against Mes Shahre Babak. Players Mehran Ahmadi, Rouzbeh Cheshmi, and Jaloliddin Masharipov are unlikely to feature in the first week due to fitness concerns and recovery processes. Coaching staff are preparing lineups around these potential absences, focusing on maintaining defensive stability and midfield cohesion during the final stages of preseason preparation.