Iran Arrive in Turkey For Preparations As FIFA World Cup Doubts Continue

Iran’s national football team reached Turkey recently to begin a training camp before their planned trip to the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Despite the latest development, there is still some doubt over their participation in the tournament following the US and Israel strikes on Iran in late February.

FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom told media recently that he had a positive and productive meeting with Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj, and he remains hopeful about Iran’s place in the tournament.

“We’ve had a constructive meeting together with the Iran football association. We’re working closely together and very much looking forward to welcoming them at the Fifa World Cup.” said FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom.

Upon arriving in Turkey, players and staff were seen coming out of Antalya Airport wearing black team outfits, many with black suitcases, before boarding buses to their hotel in Belek, a popular training base where many national teams have stayed before major tournaments.

Iran are set to play all their group matches in the United States, but their place in the tournament has been under doubt since the US and Israel attacks.

Iranian officials and FIFA have said that the team’s US visa process will be managed while they are in Turkey. Concerns over visas grew further after FFIRI president Mehdi Taj was denied entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver this month due to alleged links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iran had requested that their World Cup matches should be moved to Mexico, but FIFA president Gianni Infantino has made it clear that all games will stay at their original venues. The team is expected to head to their base in the United States at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, in early June.

They will begin their FIFA World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. After that, they are also set to face Belgium and Egypt in Group G.