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Iran's 22-member squad, accompanied by coaching staff, left for Antalya on Monday to complete U.S. visa applications and finalize preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Tasnim news agency.
The team is set to play at least one confirmed friendly match, against Gambia on May 29, before traveling to the United States for the tournament.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei confirmed that the Antalya stop would also serve as an opportunity to process U.S. visa applications. As of Thursday, federation president Mehdi Taj told Iranian media that no visas had been issued.
Iran secured their World Cup berth in March 2025. Since then, the U.S. has launched two rounds of military strikes on the country alongside Israel, the first of which came on February 28.
A ceasefire has halted the fighting in recent weeks, though peace negotiations have not produced a breakthrough.
New drone attacks targeting Gulf states over the weekend and renewed threats from U.S. President Donald Trump have raised concerns over a possible resumption of hostilities.
Despite the backdrop, U.S. and FIFA officials have stated that Iran will participate in the tournament as planned. FIFA has rejected Iranian requests to relocate their group stage matches to co-hosts Mexico or Canada. Trump said in late April that the team should be allowed to play.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that potential issues would not concern the players themselves, but rather certain members of the traveling delegation he suggested may have ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Washington designates as a terrorist organization.
Taj, who heads Iran's football federation, is a former member of the IRGC. This designation also applies under Canadian law.
Federation officials abandoned a trip to the FIFA congress last month, citing what they described as mistreatment by immigration officers.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom met with the Iranian football federation in Türkiye on Saturday, with both sides describing the meeting as constructive.
Iran is placed in Group G and will open their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle. The team's base camp in the U.S. will be located in Tucson, Arizona.
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