Iran's national football team is set to depart for its World Cup base camp in Mexico on Saturday, even as uncertainty persists regarding visas for the United States with less than two weeks remaining before the tournament commences. According to the team's official social media account, the squad will leave Antalya, Turkiye, on June 6 and travel via Spain before arriving in Tijuana, Mexico, early on June 7.
Final Preparations in Turkiye
Iran is currently holding its final training camp in Turkiye ahead of the World Cup. The team will face Mali in a closed-door friendly on Thursday, a match scheduled without spectators or media access as the coaching staff focuses on tactical preparations. During its camps in Antalya, Iran has played three warm-up matches, securing victories over Costa Rica and The Gambia while suffering a defeat to Nigeria.
Visa Challenges and Official Statements
Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj earlier this week expressed confidence that the squad would receive visas for Mexico before the process for US visas was expedited. However, officials have yet to confirm whether either set of visas has been issued. The visa issue has attracted heightened attention after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington would closely scrutinize members of Iran's delegation and would not permit individuals with alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be included under the guise of sporting participation.
Tensions over travel arrangements have persisted since April, when an Iranian football federation delegation, including Mehdi Taj, returned from Toronto after reporting difficulties with Canadian immigration officials despite holding valid visas. Iranian football authorities have since sought assurances that similar issues will not affect the team's participation during the World Cup.
World Cup Schedule and Group Stage
The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will run from June 11 to July 19. Iran has been drawn in Group G and is scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21 respectively, before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
