Iran World Cup squad lands in south Turkey for training
Iran’s football team arrived in Turkey on Monday for a training camp and to complete visa applications ahead of the 2026 World Cup, AFP correspondents said.
The 22 players and coaching staff in the “Team Melli” delegation flew into the Turkish resort of Antalya where they could be seen leaving the airport dressed in navy blue tracksuits.
The players were to stay several weeks before heading to the global tournament that is being co-hosted by the United States, which began bombing Iran on February 28 alongside Israel, sparking war.
The team will be based in Arizona in the United States and play all three of their group matches there in spite of the war, which has been temporarily halted by a ceasefire since April 8.
But with negotiations in the doldrums, new weekend drone attacks on Gulf countries and fresh threats from US President Donald Trump have heightened fears that fighting could resume.
The team are hoping to play two friendlies in Antalya, including one against The Gambia on May 29, according to Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team and is working to set up a second match.
Iran and the United States cut diplomatic ties in 1980 and the players will use their time in Turkey to complete visa applications, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Saturday.
– ‘They sold out’ –
Last week, Iran held a send-off ceremony for the team in Tehran’s central Enghelab Square with the players cheered by crowds of flag-waving supporters, footage on state TV showed.
But others were less enthusiastic.
Sepehr, a 19-year-old student from Tehran, said many didn’t see the team as representing the people, but as a squad “handpicked” by the authorities.
“This team… is not, for many people, representative of the Iranian people, it’s the team of the Islamic Republic, and in the minds of many, it will remain the most hated team ever,” he told a Paris-based AFP journalist by phone.
“They sold themselves and the people of Iran out for money, success and status.”
Mehrshad, who works in a shop in Tehran, agreed the players appeared to have sold out, but said they were likely in a tough spot.
“I don’t think anyone was expecting this rift that exists between the people and their national team. But apart from the players being useless, irresponsible and shameless, I’m sure they’re under a lot of pressure too,” the 35-year-old told AFP.
“My friends and I don’t really have the heart or energy to watch the World Cup, even the teams we loved,” he said.
“The only reason I would watch the Iranian national team would be to watch them lose,” he admitted, saying people would likely be out on the streets “celebrating their loss”.
– ‘Let ’em play’ –
Iran secured their spot at the World Cup in March 2025, but since then Washington has twice launched intensive bombing attacks on the country.
US officials have insisted Iran is welcome at the tournament, while FIFA has rejected Iranian suggestions their games be moved to co-hosts Mexico or Canada.
“Let ’em play,” Trump said in late April.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with the players but “some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them”, suggesting some may have ties to the Revolutionary Guards — branded by Washington as a terror group.
Last month, officials from Iran’s football federation abandoned a trip to the FIFA congress in Canada, saying they had been “insulted” by Canadian immigration officers.
Federation chief Mehdi Taj, who is with the delegation, is a former member of the Guards, which is also blacklisted by Canada.
FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom met with Taj and the Iranian federation in Istanbul at the weekend, describing the talks as constructive.
The squad’s US base camp will be in Tucson, Arizona.
The team, who are in Group G, kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.
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