Two consecutive defeats – at the hands of South and North Korea – have left the team in fourth place in Group Two and cost Nasser Al Johar his job.
After less than two weeks in the hotseat, Peseiro knows that defeat in Tehran will almost certainly end any hopes of automatic qualification.
With the 2007 Asian Player of the Year suspended, one would think it would be a big blow to the team’s chance. Not so, says the Portuguese tactician.
“We are not going to be affected by the absence of any player,” Peseiro said according to the homepage of the Asian Football Confederation.
“It doesn’t matter if that player is Yasser (Al Qahtani), who is suspended, as I have several players to replace him.”
“My main target is to defeat Iran because I am looking for first place in the group,” said the ex-Panathinaikos boss.
“I have seen several videos of the Iranian team and also the first match (in Riyadh; 1-1 draw).”
Malek Maaz and Nayef Hazazi are in doubt for the match due to injury.
“We are doing our best to see if they can join us. I want to use the best 11 players,” said Peseiro.
“Our main target is to reach the World Cup for the fifth time and I will concentrate on the players who played in the last few matches and in the Gulf Cup.”