Iran's Football Team Heads to Turkey for World Cup Prep

Iran's national football team, known as Team Melli, is set to travel to Turkey on Monday for a training camp in preparation for the World Cup. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei confirmed that the squad will initially include 30 players, which will be trimmed to a maximum of 26 ahead of the tournament.

Among the notable players is 33-year-old Mehdi Taremi, a former Porto striker. The team plans to play two friendly matches in Antalya, with the first against Gambia on May 29.

Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian Football Federation, stated that players are expected to undergo fingerprinting as part of the visa process, which has not encountered issues yet. The team anticipates discussions with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Tehran regarding assurances for the squad amid increasing tensions due to ongoing conflicts.

Upon arrival in the U.S., Iran will establish a base camp in Tucson, Arizona, before their World Cup campaign begins against New Zealand on June 15.