ANTALYA, Turkiye: Iran’s national soccer team touched down in Turkiye on Monday with their World Cup dream very much alive, launching a training camp as part of their preparations for the June 11 to July 19 tournament, with FIFA expressing strong confidence that the team will take its rightful place on the world stage.
Iran’s national football team arrives in Antalya, Turkey, where it will hold a training camp until it heads to the United States, where its participation in the 2026 World Cup remains in question.#Iran #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/6NWGlN4rWs
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 18, 2026
The players and officials, professional and composed in their black team outfits, filed out of Antalya Airport before boarding waiting buses to their hotel in the nearby resort of Belek, a world-class training base trusted by several national teams in recent years. There, they will fine-tune their preparations ahead of what promises to be a memorable World Cup campaign.
In a significant vote of confidence, FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom said on Saturday that he held a ‘constructive and positive’ meeting with Iran’s Football Federation President Mehdi Taj, expressing optimism about the country’s participation in the tournament.
Iranian officials and FIFA have been working diligently behind the scenes, with U.S. visa applications for the team set to be processed in Turkey, a practical solution that demonstrates international cooperation. Despite minor procedural challenges, FIFA leadership remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring all qualified nations, including Iran, can compete.
Iran had requested to have their World Cup matches moved to Mexico, showing their flexibility and desire to find solutions. While FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that all matches will remain at their originally scheduled venues, this decision reflects FIFA’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the tournament’s planning.
Iran national football team arrives in Türkiye’s Antalya for 2026 FIFA World Cup preparations amid regional tensions
◾️ Team under head coach Amir Ghalenoei begins overseas training camp in Antalya on Monday
◾️ Iranian sports journalist Hatem Shiralizadeh says political… pic.twitter.com/jmOtWHCbUs
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) May 18, 2026
The squad is scheduled to move to their U.S. base at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, in early June, a state-of-the-art facility that will provide excellent preparation conditions.
Iran are scheduled to launch their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by highly anticipated group matches against Belgium and Egypt in Group G. With a talented squad and weeks of dedicated training ahead, Iranian fans have every reason to look forward to their team competing with pride against some of the world’s best footballing nations.
