Iran’s national football team has traveled to Turkey for final World Cup preparations. The squad still awaits U.S. entry visas for their group stage matches. Team Melli left Tehran on Monday for Antalya’s training camp. Consequently, this unresolved issue creates major uncertainty with less than one month remaining.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei confirmed a preliminary roster of 30 players. He must reduce this group to 26 before June 11. Ghalenoei hopes every delegation member will obtain travel documents. Meanwhile, Iran National Team Director Mehdi Mohammad Nabi stated that the federation speaks with FIFA daily. He expects a resolution within the next two weeks.
Iran faces New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles. Afterwards, Team Melli will meet Belgium and Egypt in Group G. This marks Iran’s seventh World Cup appearance. Nevertheless, diplomatic tensions between Iran and the United States complicate visa processing. The Iranian federation has conditioned its participation on several guarantees. These include security, transport logistics, and full visa approvals.
Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj recently met FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in Istanbul. Taj said he felt satisfied with those discussions. Furthermore, FIFA President Gianni Infantino publicly stated that Iran would receive a warm welcome. He described the 2026 World Cup as the most inclusive sporting event ever.
The visa situation remains sensitive due to ongoing political friction. Therefore, Team Melli must prepare without knowing their exact travel date. The delegation will stay in Antalya until they receive clearance. Friendly matches will test the squad’s readiness. Physical conditioning and tactical drills continue without interruption.
The next two weeks will prove decisive for Iran’s World Cup hopes. If visas arrive on time, the team will fly directly to the United States. Otherwise, they might request further FIFA intervention. For now, training in Turkey offers a practical stopgap. Still, the looming visa issue distracts from on-field preparation. Ultimately, world cup visa uncertainty forces everyone to wait and watch. Team Melli remains determined to compete without complications. Their fans across Iran anxiously follow each development. World cup visa uncertainty now dominates every training session in Antalya.