The Iran national football team has arrived in southern Turkey for an intensive pre-World Cup training camp as preparations ramp up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Iranian players and coaching staff landed in Antalya on Monday to begin fitness sessions and finalize travel arrangements ahead of the global tournament.
The training camp comes at a crucial moment for Iran, with the squad aiming to improve match fitness after weeks of disrupted domestic football activity. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei admitted several players are still regaining peak condition following interruptions to league competition earlier this year.
Iran’s football federation also plans to complete visa processing in Turkey before the team travels to the United States, where all Group G matches are scheduled to take place. FIFA officials recently expressed confidence that Iran will participate in the tournament despite geopolitical tensions surrounding the event.
The Iranian squad is expected to remain in Turkey for several weeks and could play warm-up friendlies during the camp, including a reported clash against Gambia later this month.
Iran qualified for its seventh FIFA World Cup appearance after a strong AFC qualifying campaign and hopes to reach the knockout stage for the first time in the nation’s history.
Football fans across Asia and the Middle East are closely following Team Melli’s preparations as the countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues.