Irans US-bound World Cup soccer team receives public farewell in Tehran

Iran Hosts Departure Rally for FIFA World Cup Squad

Thousands of fans gathered in Tehran’s Enqelab Square to bid farewell to Iran’s FIFA World Cup team, which is set to depart for Turkey to continue its preparations at a training camp. The players made patriotic statements from a stage before the event, and their new World Cup 2026 kit was also unveiled.

The departure rally took place amid concerns about the team’s travel plans to the United States, where they will compete in all three group matches. In February, the US and Israel launched a regional war on Iran, leading to questions about the team’s participation in the World Cup.

A delegation from the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) was initially denied entry into Canada due to alleged ties with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is classified as a terrorist organization by both Canada and the US. The FFIRI has since placed responsibility for obtaining visas for the team’s players and officials in the US firmly in the hands of FIFA.

According to Hedayat Mombeini, FFIRI secretary-general, “Nothing has arrived yet regarding the visas. We hope it will definitely be handled within this timeframe.” The team is scheduled to play their first World Cup match on June 21, and will also face The Gambia in a warm-up game in Antalya on May 29.

The players are expected to travel to Turkey after the departure rally, where they will continue their preparations for the World Cup.

Source: Al Jazeera