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The Iran national football team will travel to Türkiye’s Antalya province for a training camp ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Iranian media reported Friday.
Iranian outlet Football360 reported that the team’s next preparation phase would take place in Antalya before the squad heads to its World Cup base in Tucson, Arizona. Antalya had also hosted the team earlier this year for training sessions and friendly matches in March.
Iranian sports media outlet Varzesh3 reported the team was expected to leave Tehran on Saturday, although an exact departure date was not officially confirmed. Players are also due to complete visa procedures during the Türkiye camp.
As part of its preparations, Iran will face the Gambia national football team in a friendly match on May 29 and is seeking to arrange another warmup game against an opponent yet to be finalized. Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian agent organizing the friendlies, confirmed the Gambia match on Friday.
Iran held a send-off ceremony for the squad in Tehran on Wednesday, where players wearing red and black tracksuits appeared before crowds gathered in Enghelab Square, according to footage broadcast by Iranian state television.
Mehdi Taj, head of the Iran Football Federation, stated Thursday that no visas had yet been issued for the team to enter the U.S. following heightened tensions after Washington launched strikes on Iran in late February.
Taj also said discussions were expected with FIFA President Gianni Infantino as Tehran seeks guarantees regarding the team’s participation and travel arrangements.
According to Taj, players were expected to undergo fingerprinting procedures as part of the visa process, though federation officials were attempting to avoid travel from Antalya to Ankara for the appointments.
Iran and the U.S. have not had diplomatic relations since 1980 following the revolution.
Iran opens its World Cup campaign against the New Zealand national football team in Los Angeles on Jun. 15 before facing the Belgium national football team and the Egypt national football team in Group G.
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