Iran's national football team will depart for Turkiye on Monday for a pre-World Cup training camp, friendlies, and to complete visa procedures before traveling to the United States, head coach Amir Ghalenoei announced on Saturday.
Training Camp in Antalya
Team Melli will return to Antalya, where they previously trained and played friendlies in March. The squad consists of 30 players, which must be reduced to the tournament maximum of 26. Among the notable names is 33-year-old former Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, now with Olympiacos.
Ghalenoei described the selection process as the most difficult technical decision of his coaching career, emphasizing that players were chosen solely on technical criteria.
Friendlies and Visa Arrangements
Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya, with one confirmed against Gambia on May 29, according to Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who arranges friendlies for the team.
Due to severed diplomatic ties between Iran and the US since 1980, players will use their time in Turkiye to complete visa applications. Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian football federation, stated that no visas have been issued yet. Players are expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkiye, but the federation aims to avoid a trip of over 450 kilometers from Antalya to Ankara.
Political Tensions and FIFA Involvement
Taj plans to hold talks with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to seek assurances for the squad amid heightened tensions due to ongoing conflicts.
Once in the US, Iran will set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona. Their World Cup campaign begins on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, followed by matches against Belgium in the same city and Egypt in Seattle, as part of Group G.
