A DNA test, a famous aunt, and a well-timed social media campaign just landed a Belgian Pro League striker a World Cup ticket. Dennis Eckert Ayensa, a forward for Standard Liège, has secured Iranian citizenship and adopted the name Dennis Dargahi, clearing his path to represent Iran at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Eckert received his Iranian passport on May 13, 2026. Weeks later, in early June, he was officially named to Iran’s 26-man squad, despite never earning a single senior international cap for any country.

From Bundesliga dreams to Tehran paperwork

Eckert was born on January 9, 1997, in Germany. He held both German and Spanish citizenship before adding Iranian to the collection. The citizenship process hinged on verifying his father’s Iranian heritage, which reportedly involved a DNA test to confirm the family connection.

The family ties run through Iranian actress Anahita Dargahi, who is Eckert’s aunt. That connection, combined with social media exposure that brought his story to the attention of Iranian football officials, helped accelerate what might otherwise have been a bureaucratic nightmare.

Iran’s World Cup roster strategy

Eckert’s inclusion tells a broader story about how Iran’s Football Federation is approaching the 2026 tournament. Of the 26 players named to the squad, 17 are home-based, meaning they play in Iran’s domestic league. Eckert is one of the overseas additions, bringing European league experience from Belgium’s top flight.

FIFA allows players to represent a country they hold citizenship in, provided they haven’t played a competitive senior match for another nation. Eckert, with zero senior caps anywhere, clears that bar easily.