Iran World Cup team heads to Turkey ahead of US tournament trip
Iran’s national football team departed for Turkey on Monday to play a final warm-up match and process visa applications ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, local media reports say.
The squad is preparing for the tournament despite ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States following joint military strikes carried out by Washington and Israel on February 28.
Although fighting has paused under a ceasefire, stalled peace negotiations, fresh drone attacks in Gulf countries and renewed warnings from US President Donald Trump have heightened concerns over another escalation.
According to Tasnim news agency, the team left for Antalya with 22 home-based players and coaching staff members for their final phase of preparations before travelling to the US.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei had earlier disclosed that players and officials would also complete their US visa applications while in Turkey.
Iran secured qualification for the World Cup in March 2025, but relations between Tehran and Washington have remained strained since then.
Despite the tensions, US officials have maintained that Iran will participate in the tournament, while FIFA has dismissed suggestions that Iran’s matches be moved to co-host nations Mexico or Canada.
“I think let ’em play,” Trump said in late April.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said concerns were not about the players but “some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them”, suggesting possible links to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, which Washington classifies as a terrorist organisation.
Last month, Iranian football federation officials cancelled a planned trip to the FIFA congress in Canada, claiming they were “insulted” by Canadian immigration officers.
One member of the delegation, Mehdi Taj, previously served in the Revolutionary Guards, which Canada also lists as a terror group.
Iran are expected to play two friendly matches in Antalya, including a confirmed game against The Gambia on May 29, according to Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian organiser involved in arranging the fixtures.
“No visas have been issued yet,” Taj told Iranian media on Thursday.
On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held talks with Iranian football officials in Turkey, with both sides describing the meeting as productive.
Once in the United States, Iran will establish their World Cup base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
The team, drawn in Group G, will open their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and Egypt in Seattle.