Iranian Team Heads to Turkey for 2026 World Cup Prep

The Iranian national football team departed for Turkey on Monday, May 18, to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, before traveling to the United States to play its first three matches of the tournament amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

The team, consisting of 22 players and technical staff, left Iran in the morning for Antalya to play its final friendly match before heading to the United States. In Antalya, the Iran team aims to play two friendly matches, although only one match against Gambia, scheduled for May 29, has been confirmed so far. The players will also use their time in Turkey to process their visa applications for the United States.

Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj stated on Thursday, May 14, that no visas had been issued to the Team Melli yet, while Tehran seeks guarantees regarding their participation. This marks Iran's fourth consecutive qualification for the World Cup, with the team planning to establish its base camp in Tucson, Arizona, where they are expected to arrive on June 5. This is ten days before their opening match on June 15 in Los Angeles against New Zealand.

Following this match, the team will face Belgium on June 21 and conclude its group stage against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. Diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington have ceased since 1980 due to the U.S. embassy hostage crisis. Iran's participation in the tournament has been surrounded by uncertainties since the U.S.-Israeli offensive launched against the Islamic Republic in late February, which triggered the ongoing war in the region.

Though a ceasefire was established on April 8 to suspend hostilities, negotiations aimed at reaching a lasting agreement remain stalled. FIFA has reiterated in recent weeks that the team will participate in the tournament in the U.S. FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström deemed a meeting held on Saturday, May 16, in Istanbul with the Iranian Football Federation as "very constructive" in ensuring Iran's participation. "We are working closely together and look forward to welcoming the Islamic Republic of Iran to the World Cup," he added.