The Iranian national team will begin its preparation for the World Cup in Antalya, as reported by local media on Friday.
The Iranian national team will undergo a preparation stage in Turkey before heading to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, starting next month, according to local media on Friday.
“The next phase of the national team’s preparation must take place in Antalya, Turkey,” Football360’s website stated, adding that the team would then move to Arizona (southwestern United States) to continue their preparation.
In Antalya, the “Team Melli” hopes to play two friendly matches, although only a match against Gambia on May 29 has been confirmed so far, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian match agent leading a company organizing friendly matches involving the Iranian team. They had already completed a training camp in the Turkish resort town in March.
The exact departure date for the Iranians to Turkey was not immediately known. The players also need to take care of visa-related procedures in Turkey to enter the United States, amid the conflict between Tehran and Washington.
Fact Check: The Iranian national team’s camp will be set up in Tucson, Arizona, and they will start their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt in Seattle in Group G.
