fifa world cup news

Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.

“The Iranian national football team… departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey, to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.

It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.

On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.

The team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US which paused 40 days of war that began on February 28.

The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.

Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.

The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

READ: Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out

“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.

Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.

Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

Published on May 18, 2026

#Irans #World #Cup #football #team #leaves #Turkey #reports">

Iran’s World Cup football team leaves for Turkey – reports Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.“The Iranian national football team… departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey, to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.The team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US which paused 40 days of war that began on February 28.The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.READ: Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.Published on May 18, 2026 #Irans #World #Cup #football #team #leaves #Turkey #reports

May 18, 2026

Sports news

Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.
“The Iranian national football team… departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey, to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.
It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.
On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.
The team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US which paused 40 days of war that began on February 28.
The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.
Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.
The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.
READ: Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out
“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.
Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.
On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.
Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.
When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.
The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.
Published on May 18, 2026

#Irans #World #Cup #football #team #leaves #Turkey #reports">Iran’s World Cup football team leaves for Turkey – reports

Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.

It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.

On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.

The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.

Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.

The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

READ: Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out

“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.

Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.

Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

Published on May 18, 2026

#Irans #World #Cup #football #team #leaves #Turkey #reports

Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly…

Iran’s football team represents the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), not the people of Iran, and FIFA should ban ⁠the team from participating in the upcoming World Cup, protesters gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver said on Thursday.

“This is not Iran, this is the Islamic Republic’s ‌team. This is IRGC’s team,” said Pouria Mahmoudi, an organiser with Mission for My Homeland, which brought together about 30 ‌protesters draped in Iranian flags and holding signs supporting Iranian opposition ‌figure ⁠Reza Pahlavi.

“They’re here not to represent Iran. They’re here to ⁠normalise what’s happening in Iran, the massacre in Iran. So, no, they should not be in the World Cup,” he told Reuters.

Iran has qualified for the June 11-July 19 tournament but its participation has been ‌fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches on U.S. soil amid the nation’s two-month old conflict with the United States and Israel.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated on Thursday that he expected Iran to ‌participate and play matches in the U.S., and U.S. President Donald Trump later in the day said he agreed with Infantino’s position.

ALSO READ | Gianni Infantino to seek fourth term as FIFA president

CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS

Anti-government protests in Iran in January were met ⁠with a brutal crackdown by the state in which thousands died. Mahmoudi said the carnage outweighed the desire of the players on the team to ‌compete at the tournament.

“How about those are killed, the Iranian footballers, who are killed also? FIFA shouldn’t be quiet about them,” he said.

“People should speak up about the athletes who have been killed, especially the footballers. Russia was banned from the World Cup… so we expect FIFA to do the same.”

Iranian football federation officials, including president Mehdi Taj, were ‌due to attend the gathering in Vancouver but turned back at Toronto airport after what Tehran described as “unacceptable behaviour” by Canadian immigration authorities, despite travelling with valid visas.

Canadian officials said entry decisions were made on ⁠a case-by-case basis and reiterated that individuals linked to the IRGC, which Ottawa ⁠designates as a terrorist organisation, were inadmissible.

Taj is a former member of the IRGC.

“The moment we heard that he was coming ‌to Canada, we tried our best to deport him, and we’re happy that it happened,” Mahmoudi said. “This is really great success for us. It shows that Iranian people, when they’re united, can do big things.”

Published on May 01, 2026

#Protesters #urgeFIFA #ban #Iran #World #Cup">

Protesters urge FIFA to ban Iran from World Cup Iran’s football team represents the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), not the people of Iran, and FIFA should ban ⁠the team from participating in the upcoming World Cup, protesters gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver said on Thursday.“This is not Iran, this is the Islamic Republic’s ‌team. This is IRGC’s team,” said Pouria Mahmoudi, an organiser with Mission for My Homeland, which brought together about 30 ‌protesters draped in Iranian flags and holding signs supporting Iranian opposition ‌figure ⁠Reza Pahlavi.“They’re here not to represent Iran. They’re here to ⁠normalise what’s happening in Iran, the massacre in Iran. So, no, they should not be in the World Cup,” he told Reuters.Iran has qualified for the June 11-July 19 tournament but its participation has been ‌fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches on U.S. soil amid the nation’s two-month old conflict with the United States and Israel.FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated on Thursday that he expected Iran to ‌participate and play matches in the U.S., and U.S. President Donald Trump later in the day said he agreed with Infantino’s position.ALSO READ | Gianni Infantino to seek fourth term as FIFA presidentCRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERSAnti-government protests in Iran in January were met ⁠with a brutal crackdown by the state in which thousands died. Mahmoudi said the carnage outweighed the desire of the players on the team to ‌compete at the tournament.“How about those are killed, the Iranian footballers, who are killed also? FIFA shouldn’t be quiet about them,” he said.“People should speak up about the athletes who have been killed, especially the footballers. Russia was banned from the World Cup… so we expect FIFA to do the same.”Iranian football federation officials, including president Mehdi Taj, were ‌due to attend the gathering in Vancouver but turned back at Toronto airport after what Tehran described as “unacceptable behaviour” by Canadian immigration authorities, despite travelling with valid visas.Canadian officials said entry decisions were made on ⁠a case-by-case basis and reiterated that individuals linked to the IRGC, which Ottawa ⁠designates as a terrorist organisation, were inadmissible.Taj is a former member of the IRGC.“The moment we heard that he was coming ‌to Canada, we tried our best to deport him, and we’re happy that it happened,” Mahmoudi said. “This is really great success for us. It shows that Iranian people, when they’re united, can do big things.”Published on May 01, 2026 #Protesters #urgeFIFA #ban #Iran #World #Cup

May 1, 2026

Sports news

Iran’s football team represents the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), not the people of Iran, and FIFA should ban ⁠the team from participating in the upcoming World Cup, protesters gathered outside the FIFA Congress in Vancouver said on Thursday.
“This is not Iran, this is the Islamic Republic’s ‌team. This is IRGC’s team,” said Pouria Mahmoudi, an organiser with Mission for My Homeland, which brought together about 30 ‌protesters draped in Iranian flags and holding signs supporting Iranian opposition ‌figure ⁠Reza Pahlavi.
“They’re here not to represent Iran. They’re here to ⁠normalise what’s happening in Iran, the massacre in Iran. So, no, they should not be in the World Cup,” he told Reuters.
Iran has qualified for the June 11-July 19 tournament but its participation has been ‌fraught, with Tehran requesting alternative venues for matches on U.S. soil amid the nation’s two-month old conflict with the United States and Israel.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated on Thursday that he expected Iran to ‌participate and play matches in the U.S., and U.S. President Donald Trump later in the day said he agreed with Infantino’s position.
ALSO READ | Gianni Infantino to seek fourth term as FIFA president

CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS

“How about those are killed, the Iranian footballers, who are killed also? FIFA shouldn’t be quiet about them,” he said.

“People should speak up about the athletes who have been killed, especially the footballers. Russia was banned from the World Cup… so we expect FIFA to do the same.”

Taj is a former member of the IRGC.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Protesters #urgeFIFA #ban #Iran #World #Cup">Protesters urge FIFA to ban Iran from World Cup

“They’re here not to represent Iran. They’re here to ⁠normalise what’s happening in Iran, the massacre in Iran. So, no, they should not be in the World Cup,” he told Reuters.

ALSO READ | Gianni Infantino to seek fourth term as FIFA president

CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS

“How about those are killed, the Iranian footballers, who are killed also? FIFA shouldn’t be quiet about them,” he said.

“People should speak up about the athletes who have been killed, especially the footballers. Russia was banned from the World Cup… so we expect FIFA to do the same.”

Taj is a former member of the IRGC.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Protesters #urgeFIFA #ban #Iran #World #Cup

Iran’s football team represents the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), not the people of Iran,…

The Canadian government will allocate up to $145 million for ‌security during the upcoming World Cup, Canada’s public ⁠safety minister announced on Wednesday.

Thirteen matches are set to ‌take place in Toronto and Vancouver during ‌the June 11-July 19 ‌tournament, ⁠which Canada is ⁠hosting alongside the U.S. and Mexico.

“This funding will support provinces and municipalities in ‌their efforts to ensure people remain safe while enjoying the tournament, and ‌ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to deliver ⁠a safe and well-managed event,” Public Safety Minister ‌Gary Anandasangaree said at a news conference in Toronto.

Toronto will see about $45 million of the money, while $100 million will be ‌set aside for Vancouver.

The investment builds on the $220 million the federal government ⁠has already allocated to the ⁠Canadian host cities.

Ottawa previously allocated up to $320 ‌million for hosting the tournament. (

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#Canadian #government #allocates #million #FIFA #World #Cup #security">

Canadian government allocates 5 million for FIFA World Cup 2026 security The Canadian government will allocate up to 5 million for ‌security during the upcoming World Cup, Canada’s public ⁠safety minister announced on Wednesday.Thirteen matches are set to ‌take place in Toronto and Vancouver during ‌the June 11-July 19 ‌tournament, ⁠which Canada is ⁠hosting alongside the U.S. and Mexico.“This funding will support provinces and municipalities in ‌their efforts to ensure people remain safe while enjoying the tournament, and ‌ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to deliver ⁠a safe and well-managed event,” Public Safety Minister ‌Gary Anandasangaree said at a news conference in Toronto.Toronto will see about million of the money, while 0 million will be ‌set aside for Vancouver.The investment builds on the 0 million the federal government ⁠has already allocated to the ⁠Canadian host cities.Ottawa previously allocated up to 0 ‌million for hosting the tournament. (Published on Apr 30, 2026 #Canadian #government #allocates #million #FIFA #World #Cup #security

April 30, 2026

Sports news

The Canadian government will allocate up to $145 million for ‌security during the upcoming World Cup, Canada’s public ⁠safety minister announced on Wednesday.
Thirteen matches are set to ‌take place in Toronto and Vancouver during ‌the June 11-July 19 ‌tournament, ⁠which Canada is ⁠hosting alongside the U.S. and Mexico.
“This funding will support provinces and municipalities in ‌their efforts to ensure people remain safe while enjoying the tournament, and ‌ensure law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to deliver ⁠a safe and well-managed event,” Public Safety Minister ‌Gary Anandasangaree said at a news conference in Toronto.
Toronto will see about $45 million of the money, while $100 million will be ‌set aside for Vancouver.
The investment builds on the $220 million the federal government ⁠has already allocated to the ⁠Canadian host cities.
Ottawa previously allocated up to $320 ‌million for hosting the tournament. (
Published on Apr 30, 2026

#Canadian #government #allocates #million #FIFA #World #Cup #security">Canadian government allocates $145 million for FIFA World Cup 2026 security

The Canadian government will allocate up to $145 million for ‌security during the upcoming World Cup, Canada’s public ⁠safety minister announced on Wednesday.

Thirteen matches are set to ‌take place in Toronto and Vancouver during ‌the June 11-July 19 ‌tournament, ⁠which Canada is ⁠hosting alongside the U.S. and Mexico.

Toronto will see about $45 million of the money, while $100 million will be ‌set aside for Vancouver.

The investment builds on the $220 million the federal government ⁠has already allocated to the ⁠Canadian host cities.

Ottawa previously allocated up to $320 ‌million for hosting the tournament. (

Published on Apr 30, 2026

#Canadian #government #allocates #million #FIFA #World #Cup #security

The Canadian government will allocate up to $145 million for ‌security during the upcoming World…