Iran National Football Team Travels To Turkey For World Cup Preparations Camp
Iran football team departs for Turkey World Cup preparation.
Iran’s national football team departed for Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match ahead of their participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, according to Iranian media reports.
The squad is travelling to Antalya, where they are expected to complete training sessions and play at least one warm-up fixture before heading to the United States. The Tasnim news agency reported that the travelling party includes 22 domestic-based players along with the coaching staff.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said the team would also complete visa-related formalities for entry into the United States while in Turkey. Reports indicated that the players may undergo additional administrative procedures, including fingerprinting, as part of the visa process.
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Iran’s preparations for the tournament come amid a sensitive geopolitical backdrop, including a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States following an earlier period of hostilities. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have remained strained since 1980, when the US severed ties after the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis.
The Iranian Football Federation has confirmed that the team is expected to play at least one friendly match in Turkey, with The Gambia announced as one of the opponents for May 29. Federation officials have also acknowledged logistical challenges surrounding visa issuance ahead of the team’s travel to the United States.
Once in the US, Iran is expected to establish its base camp in Tucson, Arizona, as part of its World Cup preparations. The team has been drawn into Group G and will begin its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt in Los Angeles and Seattle respectively.
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