Iran arrives excited for the World Cup after beating Mali 2-0 in a friendly played this Thursday (4), in Antalya, Turkey. Despite the positive result, the team still faces uncertainties related to the logistics of participating in the tournament.
The winning goals were scored by Saeid Ezatolahi and Ramin Rezaeian, one in each half. With the triumph, the Iranian team ended its friendly series in 2026 with three wins and one defeat.
The matches in Turkey were the only competitive activity for athletes playing in Iranian football since the suspension of the national championship, which occurred after the attacks by the United States and Israel on the country at the end of February, an episode that triggered a regional conflict.
This week, . The team leaves on Saturday for the city of Tijuana, on the border with the United States, which will serve as its base during the World Cup.
The change of headquarters occurred after the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, agreed to receive the delegation. According to reports, North American authorities did not want the team to remain in its original base, in the state of Arizona, during the tournament.
Despite the progress, the players and members of the delegation are still waiting for the necessary visas to enter the United States, where they will play group stage games against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.
The president of the Iranian federation, Mehdi Taj, stated this week that the issuance of North American visas is currently the entity’s main concern ahead of the debut against New Zealand, scheduled for June 15.
On Tuesday, the United States Secretary of State,.
