The Iranian national football team has participated in visa interviews in Turkey as part of their preparations for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The entire squad applied for Canadian visas, while several players also submitted applications for entry into the United States. An official from the Iranian Football Federation confirmed to Reuters that the delegation completed their appointments in Ankara on Thursday.
The entire squad attended the Canadian visa appointments.
Players who had not previously applied for US visas before the escalation of geopolitical tensions in February were present in person at the embassy. Several Iran-based players were joined in Ankara by their international counterparts before departing for a training camp in the coastal city of Antalya, Turkey.Iran is scheduled to play its group-stage matches on the US West Coast.
According to the tournament schedule, Iran will face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. While their initial group fixtures are set for US soil, the team has taken the proactive step of securing potential entry permits for Canada should they advance to the knockout stages.The Turkish training camp aims to bridge fitness gaps.
Domestic league activities in Iran have been suspended since March, leading to significant concerns regarding match fitness. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei has been conducting intensive training sessions in Antalya to prepare the squad for the tournament. Despite the uncertainties caused by recent regional military tensions, the federation is pushing ahead with preparations.The final squad announcement is expected soon.
The team is scheduled to play an international friendly against Gambia on May 29. Following this match, coach Ghalenoei is expected to announce the final 26-man World Cup roster before the FIFA deadline of June 1. Despite the hurdles, the team remains focused on their debut mission in the expanded 48-team tournament.
