Iran World Cup Squad Confirmed: Team Heading to Turkey for Final Preparations
Iran World Cup Squad Confirmed: Team Heading to Turkey for Final Preparations
In this handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian (C) is presented with a football jersey bearing his name from the Iranian national football team, with their head coach Amir Ghalenoei (L), during a farewell ceremony for them before their departure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Tehran on May 13, 2026. The president of the Iranian Football Federation had said late on May 9 that if Iran dropped out of the World Cup, it would deprive the country of a “major diplomatic asset”. Iran’s participation in the tournament has been surrounded by uncertainty since the outbreak of war in February, following strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic. (Photo by Iranian Presidency / AFP) / === RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / HO / IRANIAN PRESIDENCY” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ===
Iran’s World Cup squad will travel to Turkey on Monday for a training camp, friendlies and to complete visa applications before heading to the United States, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Saturday.
Team Melli will be returning to Antalya where they trained and played friendlies in March.
They are taking a squad of 30 players, which will have to be trimmed to the World Cup maximum of 26. Perhaps the best known is 33-year-old former Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, now with Olympiacos.
“Selecting 30 players for this final training camp ahead of the World Cup was the most difficult technical decision of my coaching career,” Ghalenoei told the Iranian football federation website, adding that he had selected players solely on “technical criteria”.
Iran hope to play two friendlies in Antalya. They have already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.
Iran and the US cut diplomatic ties in 1980 and the players are expected to use their time in Turkey to complete the necessary procedures for obtaining visas.
“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iranian football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.
Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Antalya to Ankara.
Taj is expected to hold talks with FIFA president Gianni Infantino as Tehran seeks assurances for its squad amid tensions increased by the ongoing war.
When the squad reaches the US, Iran will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
They are due to kick off their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle, in Group G.
AFP
