Iran vs. USA Rivalry Continues at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad

The long-standing wrestling rivalry between Iran and the United States is set to continue at the 2025 U23 World Wrestling Championships, taking place October 20–27 in Novi Sad, Serbia. Both nations are fielding powerful teams filled with world champions and rising stars, setting the stage for another high-intensity international showdown.

Iran’s Strong U23 Lineup

According to the roster submitted to United World Wrestling (UWW), Iran’s freestyle team will include:

  • Milad Valizadeh (57 kg)

  • Reza Momeni (61 kg)

  • Yasin Rezaei (65 kg)

  • Sina Khalili (70 kg)

  • Mohammadreza Shakeri (74 kg)

  • Mehdi Yousefi (79 kg)

  • Abolfazl Rahmani (86 kg)

  • Mohammad Mobin Azimi (92 kg)

  • Abolfazl Babalou (97 kg)

  • Abolfazl Mohammadzadeh (125 kg)

Among them, Valizadeh, Momeni, and Khalili have already competed at the senior world level.

  • Valizadeh represented Iran at the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade.

  • Momeni joined the national team for the 2024 Non-Olympic Weight World Championships.

  • Khalili competed in the 2024 World Championships in Albania, stepping in for the injured Amir Mohammad Yazdani.

Although none of the three won medals, all delivered strong performances that showcased Iran’s depth and technical quality.

Meanwhile, Shakeri, Azimi, and Babalou each earned gold medals at the 2023 Junior World Championships, while Yousefi and Rahmani captured junior world titles in 2025.
This means Iran’s U23 freestyle team heads to Serbia with five junior world champions and three athletes with senior world experience — making them a formidable squad to watch.

Team USA’s U23 Roster

The American team also brings a well-balanced lineup featuring both NCAA and international standouts:

  • Loke Liljedahl (57 kg)

  • Jax Forrest (61 kg)

  • Marcus Blaze (65 kg)

  • PJ Duke (70 kg)

  • Mitchell Mesenbrink (74 kg)

  • Levi Haines (79 kg)

  • Rocco Welsh (86 kg)

  • Joshua Barr (92 kg)

  • Karavos Koukabakilaou (97 kg)

  • Daniel Herrera (125 kg)

Several of these wrestlers, including Mesenbrink, Haines, and Welsh, have already made names for themselves in major U.S. collegiate and international competitions.

A Year-Ending Battle for Wrestling Supremacy

With Russia’s team points still excluded from official standings, the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad will mark the final battleground of 2025 for freestyle dominance between Iran and the U.S.

So far this year, Team USA has claimed the Cadet and Junior World Championships, while Iran celebrated a triumphant victory at the Senior World Championships.
The U23 competition will serve as the ultimate tiebreaker — deciding which wrestling powerhouse ends 2025 on top of the global rankings.

Marzieh DARABI