Iran’s football team arrived in Turkey for a training camp on Monday ahead of the World Cup amid uncertainty over the nation’s participation in the tournament.
Iran’s first game is scheduled to take place against New Zealand in Los Angeles in less than a month but the squad are still waiting for visas to the US.
The country’s involvement has been plunged into doubt since the outbreak of war with the US and Israel in February.
Uncertainty over the visas was fuelled when Mehdi Taj, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) linked president of Iran’s football federation, was denied entry for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver earlier this month.
The US and Canada, who are co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico, classify the IRGC as a ‘terrorist entity’ and have made clear they will not admit people with links to it.
But FIFA president Gianni Infantino has tried to ease fears of disruption, stating last month: ‘Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America.’
On Saturday, FIFA chief Mattias Grafstrom said he held constructive and positive meeting with Iran’s football association, expressing confidence about their participation in the World Cup.
And Iran’s squad arrived in Turkey on Monday for a training camp and to complete their visa applications.
Iran’s football team arrived in Turkey for a training camp on Monday ahead of the World Cup amid uncertainty over the nation’s participation in the tournament
Iran’s squad arriving at Antalya Airport. They will remain in Turkey for training camp and to complete visa applications
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with the players but ‘some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them’
The 22 players and officials filed out of Antalya Airport in black team outfits, many pulling black suitcases, before heading to waiting buses to travel to their hotel at the training base in the nearby resort of Belek, where several national teams have held camps in recent years.
The team were given a state send-off in Tehran on Wednesday with fans displaying Hezbollah flags and singing anti-US chants.
They will remain in Antalya for several weeks, where they hope to play two friendlies, before travelling to the US, where they will be based in Arizona.
Iran had asked for its fixtures to be moved from the US to Mexico but the request was turned down by FIFA.
After facing New Zealand they will take on Belgium, also at Los Angeles Stadium, before a final group game against Egypt in Seattle.
Iran secured their place at the World Cup in March 2025 after topping their qualification group.
But since then Washington has twice launched intensive bombing attacks on the country.
Peace talks between the US and Iran have stalled in recent weeks with Iranian drone attacks on Gulf countries taking place on Sunday.
US officials have insisted Iran is welcome at the tournament. ‘Let ’em play,’ Donald Trump said in April.
The team were given a state send-off in Tehran on Wednesday with fans displaying Hezbollah flags and singing anti-US chants
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with the players but ‘some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them’.
A number of players from Iran’s women’s team were granted humanitarian visas in Australia in March when they competed in the Women’s Asian Cup, which kicked off just days after war broke out.
Seven players were originally granted humanitarian visas but five changed their minds and returned home.
Fears about the team’s safety developed after Iranian state TV branded them ‘war time traitors’ who should be punished when they refused to sing the country’s national anthem in their opening game against South Korea.
