Iran's men's football team has been holding training sessions in Belek, a resort area near Antalya in southern Turkiye, as it prepares for two friendly matches ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Team officials restricted media access, saying they wanted to prevent distractions before these important warm-up games.

Why Turkiye and what the games are

The friendlies in Antalya were planned after the original warm-ups were moved from Jordan following the recent escalation of tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Iran will face Nigeria on Friday and Costa Rica on Tuesday, using the matches to sharpen preparations for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Safety and logistics concerns

Iran's football federation has been in talks with FIFA about the possibility of relocating its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico over worries about player safety, federation president Mehdi Taj said last week. The team has otherwise tried to stay out of the spotlight while focusing on training.

Camp atmosphere and squad notes

At the Belek sessions players and staff appeared relaxed in sunny conditions, with some light conversation and moments of levity. No interviews with players or coaches were made available, and team media personnel emphasized that the squad was concentrating on its competitive programme.

  • Mehdi Taremi was present at training. He has recently attracted attention after exchanging shirts with an Israeli opponent while playing for his club.
  • Sardar Azmoun was left out of the squad after posting a photograph with Dubai's ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Iranian media reported that Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals in 91 international appearances, may have been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government.

With the World Cup approaching, Iran's squad is trying to balance on-field preparation with wide external scrutiny. Team officials appear determined to keep focus on the football while handling the extra attention that comes with the current regional tensions.