The Iranian national football team departed Tehran for Antalya, Turkey on Monday morning. This crucial journey marks the ultimate phase of administrative and athletic adjustments for the squad. The traveling delegation includes twenty-two domestic-based players alongside the full coaching staff. Furthermore, this training camp serves a dual purpose by providing a competitive environment.
The players plan to complete their mandatory United States visa applications in Turkey. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei confirmed that his staff selected twenty-eight total players. Meanwhile, the current group consists entirely of professionals who play within the domestic league. The coaching staff expects foreign-based players to join the main squad later.
Athletic officials highly prioritize World Cup preparations for all twenty-eight selected athletes. This development follows a high-level diplomatic meeting in Istanbul between football leaders and FIFA. During these discussions, the Iranian football leadership presented ten specific technical challenges. Fortunately, the FIFA administration offered functional solutions for each item, which improved the outlook.
The federation expresses strong optimism regarding a smooth transition into host cities. The team intends to establish its official North American base camp in Arizona. According to the tournament schedule, the Iranian squad will play all group-stage matches safely. Specifically, the team faces New Zealand and Belgium before traveling to Seattle.
These competitive matches represent a historic milestone for the national sports program. Ultimately, the success of these final World Cup preparations depends on timely visa tasks. Football fans worldwide continue to monitor the progress of the team today.