Iran’s national football team will arrive in the United States 14 days before the opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. According to Iranian media reports, head coach Amir Ghalenoei stated in a recent interview that the team will land in the US ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.{IMAGE_1}
Ghalenoei expressed confidence that with proper planning, Iran can achieve strong results in the World Cup. He noted that although the team had arranged pre-tournament friendlies, “the opponent canceled at the last moment.” He also revealed that the squad will depart for Turkey on May 16 as part of their preparation.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei emphasized that the ministry will do everything possible to ensure the national team participates in the World Cup. “The team is not going to the US; it is going to the World Cup,” Baghaei said, highlighting that the event should serve as a symbol of national unity for Iran. He also pointed out that according to FIFA regulations, the host country is responsible for “providing necessary arrangements and issuing required visas without any political considerations or motives.” Baghaei expressed hope that FIFA will ensure these measures are implemented.
The 2026 World Cup marks the first time three nations will jointly host the tournament. Iran has been drawn into Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt. All three of Iran’s group stage matches will be played within the United States.{IMAGE_2}
