Standard Liège's Denis Eckert Ayensa recently sustained an ankle injury, forcing him to miss a crucial match against K.R.C. Genk and complicating his preparation for the 2026 World Cup with Iran. The 29-year-old forward, who dreams of securing a spot in Team Melli, is determined to regain full fitness for the tournament despite this setback.

Eckert Ayensa, born in Germany with an Iranian father and Spanish mother, was recently called up by head coach Amir Ghalenoei to the Iran national football team. He previously played for Germany’s youth teams and has experience in top European leagues, including La Liga with Celta Vigo and the 2. Bundesliga with Ingolstadt, before joining Standard Liège.

In March 2026, Denis Eckert Ayensa received an invitation to his first national camp for friendly matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica. Although he trained alongside players like Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Ali Gholizadeh, he was unable to play due to administrative complexities related to his change of sporting nationality, pending FIFA approval.

His potential is clear: in the Belgian playoff, he scored twice as a substitute in just 29 minutes against OH Leuven, affirming Amir Ghalenoei's faith in him. Unfortunately, he then faced an untimely injury against Antwerp, keeping him sidelined for now. Eckert hopes to fully recover and join the main training camp in May, prepared and fit.

Eckert Ayensa expressed his enthusiasm about his first experience with the national team: “It was a very enjoyable experience with incredible days.” He felt welcomed by the players and staff, and the support from Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Ali Gholizadeh helped him adjust quickly. However, his inclusion in the World Cup squad is not yet guaranteed and depends on his performance with Standard Liège.

Due to paperwork issues and the lack of final FIFA confirmation, he missed the friendly match against Nigeria, which Iran lost 2-1. The national team coach was completely honest about the situation but emphasized the importance of his presence to acclimatize. Eckert is now waiting for FIFA to give the final “green light” to step onto the pitch wearing Iran’s jersey.

Regarding off-field matters, including political tensions surrounding the tournament in the U.S., Eckert Ayensa stated that players are striving to focus solely on football. He mentioned having family in Iran, including an aunt and two half-brothers, but prefers to discuss football as a player.