The Iranian national football team arrived in Turkey on Monday for a preparatory camp and to complete the visa application process ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, AFP journalists said.
A delegation of 22 players and coaching staff, known as “Team Melli”, arrived by plane in the Turkish resort of Antalya, where they were seen leaving the airport in navy tracksuits.
The players will be in Turkey for a few weeks before leaving for the global tournament, where they will play all three group stage games despite wartime conditions.
The tournament has already been marked by tension, after the US launched a bombing campaign against Iran on February 28 along with Israel, sparking a conflict that was later temporarily halted by an April 8 ceasefire.
However, the negotiations have fallen into crisis, while new drone attacks on Gulf countries and threats from US President Donald Trump have further increased fears of a possible continuation of the conflict.
BREAKING: Iran national football team has landed in Antalya, Turkey to begin their final training camp ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Team Melli are now fully focused on World Cup preparations. pic.twitter.com/3RbjEXhLfH
— CIIA Sports (@CIIASportsINT) May 18, 2026
Preparations in Turkey
Iran will play two friendly matches during their stay in Antalya, including a match against The Gambia on May 29, according to Sam Mehdizadeh, the Iranian-Canadian friendly match organizer.
The national team plans to play another friendly match, whose opponent is still being agreed upon.
The coach Amir Ghalenoei previously stated that the players will complete visa procedures during their stay in Turkey.
Iran and the United States broke off diplomatic relations in 1980, which further complicates the national team’s path to the tournament.
Divisions in the public
A farewell ceremony was held in Enghelab Square in Tehran last week, where fans waved flags and cheered on the team, which was shown on state television.
However, part of the public in Iran has a completely different attitude.
A student from Tehran, 19-year-old Sepehr, told AFP that many do not consider the national team to be a true representative of the people, but a team “chosen by the government”.
– For many people, this is not the representation of the Iranian people, but of the Islamic Republic, and in their eyes it will remain the most hated team – he said.
Another interlocutor, 35-year-old Mehrshad, believes that the players are in a difficult situation, although part of the public believes that they “betrayed” the fans because of their success and status.
“Let them play”
FIFA rejected proposals to move Iran’s matches to Canada or Mexico, while US officials said Iran was welcome to the tournament.
US President Donald Trump said: “Let them play.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that any problems would not be related to the players, but to possible accomplices connected to institutions such as the Revolutionary Guard.
Last month, a delegation from the Iranian Football Federation canceled a trip to the FIFA congress in Canada, claiming they had been subjected to insults at the border.
Federation president Mehdi Taj, who is part of the delegation, is a former member of the Revolutionary Guard, an organization Canada considers banned.
Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom met with the Iranian delegation in Istanbul over the weekend and described the talks as constructive.
During the World Championship, the team will be based in Tucson, in the American state of Arizona.
Iran are in Group G and open the competition on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles. After that, there will be matches against Belgium in the same city and against Egypt in Seattle.
(Vijesti.ba)
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