Iran squad – Iran’s World Cup team is set to leave for Turkey on Monday for a training camp, friendlies, and visa procedures before traveling to the United States, even as diplomatic tensions and mixed U.S. signals hang over the tournament’s setup.
Iran’s World Cup squad is scheduled to travel to Turkey on Monday for a training camp that includes friendlies and time to complete visa applications before the team heads to the United States, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said Saturday.
The team. known as Team Melli. will return to Antalya—where it trained and played friendlies in March—and work through another final phase ahead of the tournament.. Ghalenoei said the squad will arrive with 30 players, then be trimmed to the World Cup maximum of 26.. Among the best-known names is 33-year-old former Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, now with Olympiacos.
Ghalenoei described selecting the final 30-man group as his most difficult technical call of his coaching career, telling the Iranian football federation website that he chose players solely on “technical criteria.”
The team is hoping to play two friendlies in Antalya. Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that organizes friendlies for the team, said one match has already been confirmed—against Gambia on May 29.
Visa logistics are expected to be central to the Turkey stop.. Iran and the U.S.. cut diplomatic ties in 1980. and players are expected to use their time in Turkey to complete required procedures to obtain visas.. Mehdi Taj. the head of the Iranian football federation. said “No visas have been issued yet” in comments carried by Iranian media on Thursday.
Taj said the process in Turkey is expected to include fingerprinting. but he said the federation wanted to avoid sending the team on a trip of more than 280 miles from Antalya to Ankara.. He is also expected to hold talks with FIFA president Gianni Infantino as Tehran seeks assurances for the squad amid tensions increased by the ongoing war.
When the team reaches the United States, Iran plans to establish its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.. The squad opens group stage play against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium south of Los Angeles on June 15. then faces Belgium at the same venue. and closes the group stage against Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle.
The visa trip and match schedule unfold against uncertainty over whether Iran should be in the tournament.. President Trump has issued mixed messages. with officials saying that in a White House meeting in mid-March he told FIFA representatives that Iran was welcome to play.. Two days later. Trump posted on Truth Social that while the Iranian team was “welcome” to participate. he did not “believe it is appropriate that they be there. for their own life and safety.” After those remarks. Taj said Iran was negotiating with FIFA to play matches in Mexico. while Infantino has repeatedly said Iran will participate.
Infantino’s stance has been reinforced at the FIFA Congress.. On April 30 in Vancouver. Canada. he opened remarks by “confirming. straight away. for those who want to say something else or write something else. that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026.. And of course Iran will play in the United States of America.” Taj said last week that Iran would participate but “under certain conditions.” He told Iranian state broadcaster IRIB: “We are going to the World Cup. for which we qualified. and our host is FIFA. not Mr.. Trump or America.”
The timing is tight and the sequence is consistent: the squad will go to Turkey on Monday for training. friendlies in Antalya. and visa steps “No visas have been issued yet” before traveling to the U.S.. for Tucson-based preparation and opening play on June 15 at SoFi Stadium. while Trump’s mid-March invitation and two days later safety objection align with Taj’s comments that Iran has been negotiating with FIFA and seeking assurances.
For now, the federation’s focus remains on getting the players through procedures that Taj says are not yet complete—while Iran’s organizers work to ensure the team can stay on schedule for the World Cup in the United States.
Iran national soccer team Team Melli World Cup 2026 Amir Ghalenoei Mehdi Taj Gianni Infantino Turkey training camp Antalya friendlies visa applications Tucson base camp SoFi Stadium New Zealand Belgium Egypt
So they’re going to Turkey just to get visas? Sounds like the real tournament is paperwork.
I don’t get it, like Iran and the US are “mixed signals” but they still play? If the US is mad, wouldn’t they just block it like instantly? Also fingerprinting?? That seems excessive for soccer.
Wait, he said they’re only choosing players on “technical criteria” but then the visas and politics are the big thing. That feels like the article is lying or missing the real reason they’re leaving. Turkey is basically a middleman for everything now, I guess.
Team Melli going to Antalya again like it’s some normal vacation, while “no visas have been issued yet”?? How does that even work if they need fingerprinting and procedures. I swear every World Cup is just diplomacy and delays now, not football. Also I saw Mehdi Taremi’s name and thought he already got cleared or something, but nope, still waiting.