Tag: FIFA World Cup 2026

‘Our team is the most oppressed’: Iran coach hits out at FIFA and US over treatment

The Guardian
Story by Alexander Abnos and Ben Fisher at Los Angeles Stadium

The Iran captain, Mehdi Taremi, midfielder Mohammad Mohebi, and the head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, hit out at Fifa and hinted at resentment toward the US government after being told they needed to leave Los Angeles ­immediately after Monday night’s 2-2 draw against New Zealand.

“Everything is like disaster for us,” said Taremi, who added that the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, visited the team in the dressing room and they expressed their concerns to him directly.

Related: Iran twice come from behind to claim draw in World Cup opener with New Zealand

Ghalenoei said Iran’s treatment by Fifa makes them “the most oppressed” team at the tournament. “After the game today they said to us: ‘You have to leave immediately.’ Whereas it’s very important for us to have recovery.

“We’ve been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that. They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult, more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best.

“We don’t know why they’re returning us. It’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the ­planning for us … We were ­supposed to arrive two nights before the game but they didn’t permit [it]. We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime.

“Our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup. Our federation isn’t here, our media isn’t here, our management isn’t here.”

Infantino went into the Iran ­dressing room after the game and a video of his message to the squad was shared online, in which Infantino and Ghalenoei exchanged words, via a member of staff translating.

“You showed to your families, friends, to your people, to the world, that you’re in the World Cup, that you perform and you have two more games to go,” Infantino said. “In these two games you will make again ­everyone in the world proud of what you do. Thank you for being here.

“It is also a big, big emotion. I know what you go through, I understand, but you are stronger than everything. You send a strong message to the entire world. You united the whole stadium here, you united the whole stadium behind you, behind Team Melli. You are sending such a strong message to the world.

“Let me say one more thing: this is just the beginning of the World Cup. You are writing history, the whole world is watching you. Continue to play with your heart, for your ­people, your families, for your fans and for everyone in the world that is ­falling in love with Team Melli. You are stronger than everything.”

Taremi criticised a logistical ­situation that has meant the team was forced to abandon their planned training base in Tucson, Arizona weeks before the tournament, instead training across the border in Tijuana, Mexico and flying in to the US shortly before games.

The team moved its training base to avoid immigration concerns that turned out to be well founded. After arriving in Mexico, 15 of the team’s support staff were denied visas to enter the US, where all of Iran’s group stage games are taking place. That number was later reduced to 11 after some visas were approved.

The team arrived in Los Angeles minus both their media officers, some analysts and the federation ­president, Mehdi Taj. Another analyst for the team served as a stand-in media aide for Taremi and Mohebi’s appearance, which a Fifa official repeatedly attempted to stop as both players ­continued answering questions.

Related: World Cup 2026: Iran begin disrupted campaign with draw against New Zealand – in pictures

“It’s not good for the football,” Taremi said. “In [the] World Cup, you have to prepare [well] for the next game, which is a lot of stress for the players and the staff and everyone. But we don’t have that support and Fifa have to help us more than this. Let’s see what’s going to happen in the future.”

Iran faced delays in their travel from Tijuana to Los Angeles, a short trip that Taremi said took five hours. He did not specify what caused the delays, but it was understood the immigration process was the main cause. Taremi and Mohebi said being forced to leave immediately afterward would negatively affect the players’ performance at the tournament.

“It’s supposed to be: tomorrow morning recovery, then we fly to Tijuana, then we return to LA again, but right now we have to go back,” Taremi said. Mohebi added: “Yesterday we came, started the trip in the morning, and we arrive [in the] afternoon. We directly go to train and we get tired. This kind of deal is not fair … we’re going to get fatigued – hamstring, lower back, glutes …”

In contrast, Ghalenoei praised the warmth of co-hosts Mexico and many Mexicans were in attendance supporting Iran at the Los Angeles Stadium. “The Mexican people, the Mexican government, especially the people in Tijuana, made us feel at home,” he said.


 

Team Melli's possible lineup vs New Zealand

The Iranian national football team will face New Zealand (FIFA Rank #85) in its first match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday morning, June 16th, at 04:30 Tehran time in Los Angeles, USA.

After a scare, it seems that Mehdi Taremi is fit enough to start the match for Iran. The number 9 striker, who has played 105 international matches so far, will enter the field with 60 international goals in the main lineup and will try to increase this impressive statistic.

In the attack, Taremi will be supported by two other goal scorers, Mohammad Mohebi and Mehdi Ghaedi; players who have 14 and 10 international goals in their portfolios, respectively, and play an important role in the team’s offensive phase.

However, Team Melli is also facing several injury issues; Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Dennis Eckert ( two players who have not featured in the pre-tournament camp), and Mehdi Torabi are likely to miss the match, while Roozbeh Cheshmi's condition is also uncertain and has been postponed until the final fitness tests.

Saman Ghoddos is likely to retain his place in the starting lineup, while Saeed Ezzatollahi and Amir Mohammad Razaghinia will play in the middle of the field as a central midfield pair. In defense, Ramin Rezaian and Ehsan Hajsafi will cover the flanks on either side of the defensive line, while the pair of Shoja Khalilzadeh and Hossein Kananizadegan will be in the heart of the defense.

This defense will protect the national team's number one goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, a goalkeeper who will undoubtedly be in the starting lineup to ensure Iran has a strong start to the World Cup.

Possible Iran lineup:
Alireza Beiranvand; Ramin Rezaian, Shoja 'a Khalilzadeh, Hossein Kananizadegan, Ehsan Hajsafi;

Saeid Ezzatollahi, Saman Ghoddos Amir Mohammad Razaghinia;


Mohammad Mohebbi, Mehdi Hagedi and Mehdi Taremi

Iran vs. New Zealand referee announced.

Team Melli opener at the Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, against New Zealand will be refereed by the Mexican César Arturo Ramos.
The 42-year-old Mexican international referee has refereed in the FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022. He refereed the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final match between France and Morocco on 14 December.

Ramos was the referee of Team Melli's match against Oman in AFC Asian Cup 2019

Ramos will be assisted by compatriots Alberto Morin and Marco Bisguerra.

The 4th Official is Vusuke Araki of Japan

The match starts at 6 PM local time.

Inside the U.S. Decision to Block Iran’s World Cup Delegation

While all 26 players and head coach Amir Ghalenoei have successfully received U.S. entry visas for the upcoming World Cup matches, nearly the entire administrative and a portion of the technical and coaching staff have been denied. In total, 12 team personnel will not be permitted to accompany Team Melli on U.S. soil.

The Iranian national football team departed Turkey today, en route to Tijuana, Mexico, where they will establish their base for the tournament. The travel list notably included Mehdi Taj, the head of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI).

Key figures denied visas :

Mehdi Mohammadnabi, Team Manager and Board Member of FFIRI.

Mehdi Taj , FFIRI President

Hedayat Mombini, Secretary General of the Football Federation

Siamak Ghlichkhani, media team member

Mohsen Motamedkia, Communications and Media Director

Mehdi Kharati, Executive Director of the national team

Apart from the top two, none of the above individuals are known to have current or prior affiliations with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Mehdi Taj and Mohammadnabi have faced previous scrutiny over past connections. It has been suggested that the U.S. visa denials may have been informed by intelligence provided by Iranian diaspora groups in California, many of whom are vocally opposed to the current Iranian government. However, this claim remains unverified.

Additionally, sources indicate that none of the security and intelligence personnel, often accompanying Team Melli as informal minders (known as Herasat), applied for U.S. visas altogether, reportedly fearing certain rejection or even arrest upon arrival in the United States.

Technical Impact vs. Logistical Challenges

From a sporting perspective, the team remains intact. The absence of these 12 individuals is not expected to directly affect game plans, player preparation, or on-field training. However, the loss of key administrative and logistical personnel could severely disrupt operations behind the scenes, potentially handicapping Team Melli’s World Cup campaign through disorganized coordination, travel arrangements, and media management.

All 12 denied individuals are expected to remain in Tijuana, Mexico, for the duration of the World Cup, operating from across the border.

Concerns Over Entry Procedures for Players and Coaches

Despite being granted visas, there are growing fears among the Iranian camp that the team’s actual entry into the United States may not go smoothly. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (ICE) officials retain broad discretionary powers at ports of entry, and there are concerns that players and coaching staff could be subjected to extended questioning or detention for hours, adding unnecessary emotional and physical strain ahead of crucial matches.

Some Iranian officials have alleged that U.S. authorities may exploit procedural measures to pressure the team, with one source quoted as saying, “the Americans will do everything in the book and outside it to hurt Iran.” Such claims remain unconfirmed and reflect the heightened political tensions surrounding the Iranian team’s participation in a U.S.-hosted sporting event.

Uncertainty Over FIFA’s Guarantees

It remains to be seen whether FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s personal assurances of safe and swift passage for all World Cup participants will hold true for Iran. With off-field political pressures already mounting, Team Melli faces the dual challenge of navigating both on-field competition and a complicated, high-stakes logistical environment.

FULL LIST OF TEAM MELLI STAFF

Coaching Staff — Iran

AG

Amir Ghalenoei - Head Coach
Rahman Rezaei - Assistant Coach
Andranik Teymourian - Assistant Coach
Alin Dincă - Goalkeepers Coach
Ali Asghar Ghorbanalipour - Fitness Coach
Alireza Shahab - Physiotherapist
Parhan Khanlari - Team Doctor
Amir Esmaeili - Staff

Age of Stagnation: Why Ghalenoei’s Conservative Selections Have Made Iran the Second-Oldest Team at the 2026 World Cup

PERSIAN VERSION
  • پیریِ مرگبار: چرا انتخاب‌های محافظه‌کارانهٔ قلعه‌نویی، ایران را دومین تیم پیر جهان در جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶ کرده است
    با نزدیک شدن به جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶، تمام تیم‌ها لیست نهایی بازیکنان خود را به کمیته برگزاری تحویل داده‌اند. طبق آمار منتشرشده از میانگین سنی هر تیم، تصویری روشن و برای برخی، هشداردهنده به دست آمده است:

Continue reading "Age of Stagnation: Why Ghalenoei’s Conservative Selections Have Made Iran the Second-Oldest Team at the 2026 World Cup" →

With the 2026 World Cup rapidly approaching, all participating nations have submitted their official player lists to the organizing committee. Recent data released on the average age of each squad has painted a telling, and for some, alarming picture. According to the records:

  • Panama (30.4 years)
  • Iran (30.3 years)
  • Colombia (30.1 years)

These three nations stand as the oldest teams in the competition. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Ivory Coast boasts the youngest squad with an average age of just 25.8 years—a full 4.5 years younger than Team Melli.

Iran’s Aging Roster: A Symptom, Not a Coincidence

For Iranian fans and analysts, seeing their national team ranked as the second-oldest in the world is not merely a statistical curiosity. It is a glaring indictment of head coach Amir Ghalenoei’s philosophy, risk aversion, and failure to regenerate the squad since he took over in March 2023, barely three months after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

On the surface, relying on experienced players might seem prudent for a team facing the likes of England and European powerhouses. Veterans bring composure, tactical discipline, and big-match know-how. However, the deeper problem is that under Ghalenoei, experience has become an excuse for exclusion, specifically, the systematic exclusion of young, dynamic, and technically gifted emerging talents.

Ghalenoei’s Core Failure: A Closed Door to Youth

The most damning charge against Ghalenoei is his inability, or outright refusal, to introduce a single player of lasting value to the national squad during his entire tenure. In nearly four years at the helm, spanning the AFC Asian Cup 2023, World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches, he has not blooded a promising young star who could credibly claim a starting spot in 2026.

Unlike predecessors who at least attempted transitions (e.g., Queiroz introducing Sardar Azmoun and Saman Ghoddos as youngsters, or even Branko Ivanković giving early caps to Ehsan Hajsafi), Ghalenoei has fallen back on the same core of aging, often injury-prone players. Names like Shoja Khalilzadeh (37), Ramin Rezaeian (36), and Ehsan Hajsafy (36) continue to receive call-ups, while talents such as:

  • Kasra Taheri
  • Mohammad Amin Hazbavi (defensive prodigy)
  • Saeid Saharkhizan (prolific young striker)
  • Javad Hosseinnejad

Are given token minutes that amount to little more than window dressing.

A Culture of Distrust and Fear

Ghalenoei’s selection patterns reveal a deep-seated distrust of youth, often rationalized in press conferences with vague phrases like “they are not ready” or “the pressure is too high.” But this is a smokescreen. The reality is a conservative, fear-driven approach: the coach prioritizes short-term results (avoiding a humiliating loss in a qualifier) over long-term development (giving a 21-year-old 45 minutes against a weaker Asian side).

This fear has paralyzed Iran’s natural footballing cycle. While Japan, Australia, and even Saudi Arabia have lowered their average age and injected pace and energy, Iran has remained static. The result is a squad that, by 2026, will rely on several players past their physical prime, easily exploited by faster, younger opponents in a condensed tournament schedule.

Impunity and Institutional Failure: The Role of Mehdi Taj and FFIRI

Yet, Ghalenoei alone is not the culprit. His job security, despite underwhelming performances and a visible lack of tactical evolution, is underwritten by the blind trust of Mehdi Taj, the president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), and a notoriously silent, ineffective board.

The FFIRI has historically oscillated between micromanagement and neglect. Under Taj, the federation has abdicated its responsibility to challenge the head coach. No public questioning of Ghalenoei’s squad selection. No pressure to integrate U-23 players. No performance reviews with clear KPIs regarding player development. Instead, Ghalenoei operates with impunity, knowing that as long as Iran scrapes past Hong Kong or Turkmenistan, his position is secure.

This institutional complacency is catastrophic. It sends a message to every young player in the Persian Gulf Pro League: no matter how well you perform, you will not be trusted until you are nearly 30. That kills ambition, depresses the league’s competitive intensity, and accelerates the exodus of promising talent to Qatar or the UAE merely for playing time.

The Cost of Impunity

The shadow of doubt cast by Ghalenoei’s tenure extends far beyond the 2026 World Cup. Even if Iran manages a respectable performance (e.g., a single win or a draw against top-tier opposition), the underlying structural damage remains. By refusing to build for the future, Ghalenoei and the FFIRI are setting up Iranian football for a hard landing after the tournament.

When the current crop of 30-somethings retires en masse post-2026, there will be no experienced replacements—only a generation of 24-to-27-year-olds with fewer than ten caps and zero big-tournament experience. That is the hallmark of managerial negligence.

Conclusion: A Lost Cycle

The statistic that Iran is the second-oldest team at the 2026 World Cup is not a badge of honor. It is a funeral bell for a lost development cycle. Amir Ghalenoei’s distrust of young players, rooted in a conservative and fearful mindset, has denied a generation the chance to grow. And with Mehdi Taj’s FFIRI offering no oversight, there is no incentive to change.

Iranian football deserves a coach who sees youth as an asset, not a liability. Until Ghalenoei is held accountable, or replaced by someone willing to take calculated risks, Team Melli will remain old, slow, and predictable. And that is a far more dangerous opponent for Iran than any European powerhouse.

Ivory Coast, with an average age of 25.8 years, is known as the youngest team in the competition.

Ranking of the top 10 teams (oldest and youngest) The oldest teams in the 2026 World Cup:

1 - Panama 30.4 years
2 - Iran 30.3 years
3 - Colombia 30.1 years
4 - Cape Verde 29.7 years
5 - Qatar 29.4 years
6 - Brazil 29.2 years
7 - Scotland 29.2 years
8 - Argentina 29.1 years
9 - Congo 29.1 years
10 - Paraguay 29.0 years

The youngest teams in the 2026 World Cup:
1 - Ivory Coast 25.8 years
2 - Bosnia 26.0 years
3 - Ecuador 26.1 years
4 - Morocco 26.4 years
5 - Tunisia 26.6 years
6 - Spain 26.7 years
7 - South Africa 26.8 years
8 - Norway 26.8 years
9 - Algeria 26.9 years
10 - USA 26.9 years

PERSIAN VERSION
  • پیریِ مرگبار: چرا انتخاب‌های محافظه‌کارانهٔ قلعه‌نویی، ایران را دومین تیم پیر جهان در جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶ کرده است
    با نزدیک شدن به جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶، تمام تیم‌ها لیست نهایی بازیکنان خود را به کمیته برگزاری تحویل داده‌اند. طبق آمار منتشرشده از میانگین سنی هر تیم، تصویری روشن و برای برخی، هشداردهنده به دست آمده است:

Continue reading "Age of Stagnation: Why Ghalenoei’s Conservative Selections Have Made Iran the Second-Oldest Team at the 2026 World Cup" →

Team Melli Still Waiting for U.S. and Mexico Visas, Says Mehdi Taj

The Iranian national football team, known as Team Melli, has yet to secure entry visas for Mexico and the United States ahead of their upcoming international fixtures. This was confirmed by Mehdi Taj, the head of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI).

Taj also provided insight into the team’s recent friendly match arrangements and the logistical challenges involved.

“The reality is that the region has been affected by war. Qatar and the UAE lost their FIFA Days in March as a result, but we managed to hold a training camp in Turkey. That camp cost us nearly $1.2 million. Now, we paid $100,000 to arrange a friendly with Mali, and we also covered their team’s hotel expenses,” Taj explained.

He further detailed the costs of a proposed match in North America: “We will need to spend another $1.2 million to fly the national team to Mexico. We have nearly eight tons of cargo, and the plane has only 36 business-class seats.”

On the pressing issue of visa issuance, Taj said: “After the final player list was confirmed, we submitted it to FIFA. Based on that list, we are supposed to receive Mexican visas first, followed by U.S. visas as quickly as possible. The truth is that FIFA is caught in the middle between us and the United States.”

Four Dropped Players May Still Travel as Observers

Taj also addressed the status of the four players who were excluded from the final World Cup squad. “They are supposed to travel with the team to the World Cup. Of course, whether they accompany the team as observers is up to them,” he said.

Political Atmosphere May Have Influenced Squad Selection

In a highly unusual statement regarding national team selection, Taj suggested that off-pitch factors could have played a role. “The conditions and the atmosphere in the stadiums may have had an impact on the selection of players, and Mr. Ghalenoei [Team Melli’s head coach] took this into account.”

This remark implies that the political environment—specifically the possibility of dissent or protests, including from the Iranian diaspora—may have influenced player selection. Taj did not clarify how such considerations were measured in terms of athletic ability, nor whether the player's political stance or reputation played a role.

Friendly with Grenada Likely Behind Closed Doors

The FFIRI has held talks with the Grenada Football Federation to arrange a friendly match prior to the World Cup. Team Melli had originally been scheduled to face Puerto Rico in their final warm-up match in the United States, but that game was canceled after the team’s camp was moved to Tijuana, Mexico.

The potential match against Grenada—ranked 163rd in the FIFA rankings—would be played behind closed doors.

Upcoming Test Against Mali

In two days, Team Melli will face Mali in what is expected to be a much tougher test for the Iranian side. The match will serve as a crucial evaluation just before the team departs for Mexico.

It could also provide an opportunity for head coach Amir Ghalenoei to give playing time to those who have not yet featured in the current camp, including Mehdi Ghayedi, Saman Ghoddos, and Dennis Dargahi. The latter, Dargahi, has yet to make his senior debut for Team Melli, despite being named in the final 26-player squad.

Persian Version

مهدی تاج، رئیس فدراسیون فوتبال جمهوری اسلامی ایران

، تأیید کرد که تیم ملی ایران ()

هنوز موفق به دریافت ویزای ورود به مکزیک و ایالات متحده برای دیدارهای بین‌المللی پیش‌رو نشده است.تیم ملی

تاج همچنین درباره چیدمان دیدارهای دوستانه و چالش‌های لجستیکی پیشِ رو توضیح داد:

«واقعیت این است که منطقه تحت تأثیر جنگ قرار گرفته است. قطر و امارات در ماه مارس روزهای فیفا را از دست دادند، اما ما اردوی خود را در ترکیه برگزار کردیم. این اردو نزدیک به ۱.۲ میلیون دلار هزینه داشت. حالا برای برگزاری بازی دوستانه با مالی ۱۰۰ هزار دلار پرداخت کردیم و هزینه هتل تیم مالی را هم متقبل شدیم.»

او در ادامه به هزینه‌های سفر به مکزیک اشاره کرد: «برای پرواز دادن تیم ملی به مکزیک مجبوریم ۱.۲ میلیون دلار هزینه کنیم. نزدیک به ۸ تن بار داریم و هواپیما فقط ۳۶ صندلی بیزینس کلاس دارد.»

وضعیت ویزا: فیفا میان ایران و آمریکا گیر کرده است

تاج در مورد آخرین وضعیت صدور ویزای تیم ملی گفت: «بعد از نهایی شدن لیست نهایی، آن را در اختیار فیفا قرار دادیم. فیفا بر اساس این لیست ابتدا ویزای مکزیک و سپس ویزای آمریکا را برای ما صادر خواهد کرد. واقعیت این است که فیفا بین ما و آمریکا گیر کرده است.»

چهار بازیکن خط‌ خورده ممکن است به عنوان ناظر همراه تیم شوند

تاج همچنین درباره چهار بازیکنی که از لیست نهایی خط خورده‌اند، گفت: «این چهار بازیکن قرار است همراه تیم به جام جهانی سفر کنند. البته این که به عنوان ناظر همراه تیم باشند یا نه، به خودشان بستگی دارد.»

تأثیر جو سیاسی بر انتخاب بازیکنان؛ اظهارنظر بی‌سابقه رئیس فدراسیون

تاج سپس به موضوعی اشاره کرد که در تاریخ انتخاب بازیکنان تیم‌های ملی بی‌سابقه است. او گفت: «شرایط و جو حاکم بر ورزشگاه‌ها ممکن است روی انتخاب بازیکنان تأثیر گذاشته باشد و آقای قلعه‌نویی این مسئله را مدنظر قرار داده است.»

این اظهارنهاد حاکی از آن است که فضای سیاسی - از جمله احتمال اعتراضات یا مخالفت‌ها از سوی هواداران ایرانی خارج از کشور - در انتخاب بازیکنان مؤثر بوده است. تاج توضیح نداد که چگونه این موضوع از نظر توانایی فنی سنجیده می‌شود یا این که آیا سابقه یا موضع‌گیری سیاسی نقشی در این انتخاب‌ها داشته است.

دوستانه با گرانادا پشت درهای بسته

فدراسیون ایران با فدراسیون گرانادا برای برگزاری یک بازی دوستانه پیش از جام جهانی مذاکره کرده است. قرار بود تیم ملی آخرین بازی تدارکاتی خود پیش از جام جهانی در آمریکا برابر پورتوریکو برگزار کند، اما این بازی به دلیل انتقال اردوی تیم ایران به تیجوانای مکزیک لغو شد.

دیدار احتمالی با گرانادا که در رده‌بندی فیفا در جایگاه ۱۶۳ قرار دارد، پشت درهای بسته برگزار خواهد شد.

تست سخت برابر مالی در دو روز آینده

تیم ملی ایران ظرف دو روز دیگر به مصاف مالی خواهد رفت. این دیدار برای شاگردان قلعه‌نویی آزمونی دشوارتر محسوب می‌شود و انتظار می‌رود چالش جدی پیش از سفر به مکزیک باشد.

این بازی می‌تواند فرصتی برای قلعه‌نویی باشد تا از بازیکنانی استفاده کند که تاکنون در این اردو به میدان نرفته‌اند؛ از جمله مهدی قایدی، سامان قدوس و دنیس درگاهی.  با وجود قرار گرفتن در لیست نهایی ۲۶ نفره تیم ملی، هنوز اولین بازی رسمی خود را برای ایران انجام نداده است.

Official: Sardar Azmoun Excluded from 2026 World Cup

Team Melli and Iranian football fans hoping to see Sardar Azmoun participate in his third consecutive World Cup will not have their wish fulfilled.

One of the best goalscorers in the history of Iranian national football will not accompany Team Melli at the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Azmoun, the Shabab Al-Ahli striker, was initially dropped from the national team following the publication of a controversial post on his Instagram account, which showed him with Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

In recent weeks, renewed efforts were made to resolve the misunderstandings and bring back this key figure of the national team. Azmoun himself expressed his desire to continue working with the team by sharing an emotional post. However, despite various mediation attempts aimed at clearing the air for the return of the talented striker, his participation will not be possible due to FIFA's strict World Cup regulations.

Azmoun's situation came to light when his name was absent from the 55-man preliminary list that teams are required to submit to FIFA. Strangely enough, the reason for his omission was that he personally failed to complete the necessary administrative procedures within the stipulated time to be included in the 52-man list. Although the national team coaching staff did not fill the entire list, leaving three vacancies, the process of resolving the obstacles took too long. By the time efforts were completed, the deadline for submitting the preliminary squad had passed, and FIFA would not accept any new names being added to that list.

Sardar Azmoun (31 years old) has played 91 times for Team Melli. He has scored 57 goals and ranks as the third all-time leading scorer after the legendary Ali Daei and current Team Melli captain Mehdi Taremi.

Azmoun has mostly played professionally in Europe, starting with Rubin Kazan, Rostov, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Bayer Leverkusen, and AS Roma before moving to Shabab Al-Ahli in Dubai, where he won the league title and the Best Scorer award.

The undoubtedly talented striker has had his fair share of controversy off the pitch. At 23, he announced his retirement from Team Melli after being criticized by some fans. He was an activist during the Mahsa Amini protests. Xabi Alonso, the then Bayer Leverkusen head coach, fired him from the team after his late arrival at the training camp without informing the club or seeking the coach's approval.

 Persian version



تیم ملی و هواداران فوتبال ایران که امیدوار بودند سردار آزمون را در سومین جام جهانی متوالی ببینند، آرزویشان برآورده نخواهد شد.

یکی از بهترین گلزنان تاریخ فوتبال ملی ایران در جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶ آمریکا همراه تیم ملی نخواهد بود. آزمون، مهاجم الشباب امارات، ابتدا پس از انتشار یک پست جنجالی در اینستاگرامش از تیم ملی کنار گذاشته شد؛ پستی که او را در کنار شیخ محمد بن راشد آل مکتوم، حاکم دبی، نشان می‌داد.

در هفته‌های اخیر، تلاش‌های تازه‌ای برای رفع سوءتفاهم‌ها و بازگرداندن این چهره کلیدی به تیم ملی صورت گرفت. خود آزمون نیز با انتشار پستی احساسی، تمایلش را برای ادامه همکاری با تیم ملی ابراز کرد. با این حال، علیرغم میانجی‌گری‌های متعدد برای هموار کردن مسیر بازگشت این مهاجم بااستعداد، حضور او به دلیل قوانین سختگیرانه فیفا در جام جهانی ممکن نخواهد بود.

ماجرای آزمون زمانی برملا شد که نام او در فهرست ۵۵ نفره ابتدایی که تیم‌ها موظف به ارائه به فیفا هستند، دیده نمی‌شد. جالب اینکه دلیل غیبت او این بود که خودش شخصاً نتوانسته بود تشریفات اداری لازم را برای قرار گرفتن در فهرست ۵۲ نفره در مهلت مقرر انجام دهد. اگرچه کادر فنی تیم ملی کل فهرست را پر نکرده بود و سه جای خالی وجود داشت، اما فرآیند رفع موانع بسیار طول کشید. زمانی که تلاش‌ها به پایان رسید، مهلت ارسال فهرست مقدماتی به پایان رسیده بود و فیفا دیگر قبول نمی‌کرد نام جدیدی به آن فهرست اضافه شود.

سردار آزمون (۳۱ ساله) ۹۱ بار برای تیم ملی به میدان رفته است. او ۵۷ گل به ثمر رسانده و پس از علی دایی افسانه‌ای و مهدی طارمی کاپیتان فعلی تیم ملی، سومین گلزن برتر تاریخ ایران محسوب می‌شود.

آزمون بیشتر دوران حرفه‌ای خود را در اروپا گذرانده است؛ از روبین کازان، روستوف، زنیت سن‌پترزبورگ، بایر لورکوزن و آ اس رم شروع کرد و سپس به الشباب دبی پیوست، جایی که قهرمانی لیگ و عنوان آقای گلی را به دست آورد.

این مهاجم بی‌تردید بااستعداد، سهم خود را از جنجال‌های خارج از زمین نیز داشته است. در ۲۳ سالگی، پس از انتقاد برخی هواداران، بازنشستگی خود را از تیم ملی اعلام کرد. او در جریان اعتراضات مهسا امینی یک کنشگر بود. ژابی آلونسو، سرمربی وقت بایر لورکوزن، او را پس از دیر رسیدن به اردوی تمرینی بدون اطلاع باشگاه یا جلب موافقت سرمربی، از تیم اخراج کرد.

Iran vs Gambia — International Friendly Pre‑Match Report

Iran continues its preparation phase with a friendly against the Gambia National Football Team, a rising African side known for athleticism, defensive discipline, and rapid transitions. Although not a traditional powerhouse, Gambia has become one of Africa’s most intriguing emerging teams, especially after its impressive AFCON 2021 run.

This match offers Iran a valuable test against a physically strong, counter‑attacking opponent.

Gambia: Team Overview

Gambia, nicknamed The Scorpions, has undergone a transformation in recent years under coach Tom Saintfiet, becoming tactically organized and difficult to break down. Their football identity is built on:

  • Compact defensive structure
  • Explosive wingers
  • Direct transitions
  • High physical intensity

They are ranked outside the top 100, but their performances against stronger African nations show they are far more dangerous than their ranking suggests.

Head Coach: Jonathan McKinstry (appointed in 2024).
Key Players: Omar Colley (Captain), Musa Barrow, and Yankuba Minteh (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Key Achievements: The senior men's team famously reached the quarter-finals of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in their debut appearance.

🧠 Tactical Analysis

Gambia’s Strengths

  • Counter‑attacking threat: Their front three are extremely fast and thrive in open space.
  • Physicality: Strong in duels, especially in midfield and defense.
  • Compact defensive block: They often sit deep and frustrate opponents.
  • Set‑pieces: Tall defenders and aggressive attackers make them dangerous on corners and free kicks.

Gambia’s Weaknesses

  • Struggle in possession: They are not comfortable building from the back.
  • Limited creativity in midfield: Without space, they find it hard to break teams down.
  • Defensive lapses under pressure: When pressed high, they can make mistakes.
  • Goal-scoring inconsistency: If Barrow or Ceesay are contained, they lack secondary scoring options.

🔍 What This Means for Iran

Opportunities for Iran

  • High pressing can force turnovers — Gambia’s defenders are not great under pressure.
  • Iran’s technical midfielders (e.g., Ghoddos, Ghorbani, Ezatolahi) can dominate possession.
  • Full‑backs can exploit the space behind Gambia’s wingers, who often stay high.
  • Set‑pieces are a major opportunity — Gambia concedes many fouls around the box.

Challenges for Iran

  • Avoid getting caught on the counter — Gambia’s speed is elite.
  • Maintain defensive discipline — one mistake can lead to a 1v1 situation.
  • Physical duels — Iran must match their intensity, especially in midfield.

📌 Expected Match Dynamics

  • Iran will likely dominate possession.
  • Gambia will sit deep and wait for counter‑attacks.
  • The match will test Iran’s defensive transition and ability to break down a compact block.
  • A good opportunity for Iran to rotate players and test tactical variations.

📝 Final Outlook

This is a smart choice of opponent for Iran: not a big name, but a team with the exact characteristics that often trouble Asian sides — pace, power, and counter‑attacks. A strong performance will boost confidence and help evaluate squad depth.

Tijuana’s Centro Xoloitzcuintle , Team Melli's Base Camp in Mexico

A strategic location, unique climate, and proximity to major host cities shape Team Melli’s World Cup preparations

When FIFA confirmed the list of official base camps for the 2026 World Cup, one selection stood out immediately: Iran will train in Tijuana, Mexico, at the Centro Xoloitzcuintle, the private training complex of Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente.
The choice surprised many observers, not because of quality, but because of the facility’s unusually low public profile. Despite being part of a major Liga MX organization, the training center has very limited public imagery, almost no architectural documentation, and sits inside a privately owned sports and entertainment complex.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has personally supported the Iranian camp. Sheinbaum said at a news conference Monday that she was told by a FIFA representative the U.S. was reluctant to have the Iranian soccer team spend time outside the games on U.S. territory.

"The United States doesn't want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States," Sheinbaum told reporters. She said a FIFA representative had then asked, "Can they stay overnight in Mexico?"

"And we said, 'Yes, no problem. We have no issue with that'," she said.

Iran's soccer team is slated to play matches in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and against Belgium six days later, before facing Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

🏟️ A Private, High‑Performance Training Environment

The Centro Xoloitzcuintle is located inside the Estadio Caliente / Hipódromo Agua Caliente complex, a secure, privately owned sports zone in Tijuana.
It serves as the primary training ground for Club Tijuana (Xolos), the city’s top‑flight Liga MX team.

The facility includes:

  • A FIFA‑standard natural‑grass pitch (recently converted from synthetic turf)
  • Controlled access and privacy
  • Proximity to medical, fitness, and recovery infrastructure
  • A closed environment ideal for teams requiring security and confidentiality

The privacy factor is especially relevant for Iran, a team that often prefers low‑exposure, tightly managed training environments.

🌎 Strategic Location: Close to Los Angeles and Seattle

Iran’s group‑stage matches in 2026 will require significant travel across North America.
Tijuana’s location offers a major logistical advantage:

✈️ Travel Times

  • Tijuana → Los Angeles
    Approx. 2.5 hours by road (via CBX or San Ysidro border crossing)
    Approx. 35–45 minutes by air from Tijuana International Airport (TIJ)
  • Tijuana → Seattle
    Approx. 3 hours by direct flight
    (TIJ has direct and connecting flights to Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport)

This makes Tijuana one of the closest non‑U.S. training bases to two major host cities.

Additionally, the Cross‑Border Xpress (CBX) terminal allows passengers to walk directly from Tijuana Airport into the United States, dramatically simplifying logistics.

🌤️ Climate: Mild, Coastal, and Ideal for Training

Tijuana’s climate is Mediterranean‑coastal, similar to Southern California.

Key advantages:

  • Mild temperatures in June (18–24°C)
  • Low humidity compared to U.S. East Coast venues
  • Stable weather with minimal rain
  • Cool evenings, ideal for recovery sessions

This is a significant benefit for Iran, whose players will face varying climates across the tournament—from the heat of California to the cooler Pacific Northwest.

🌍 Iranian Diaspora in Tijuana & San Diego

While Tijuana itself has a small Iranian community, the San Diego metropolitan area—just minutes across the border—has a notable Iranian diaspora, including:

  • Academics and researchers
  • Tech professionals
  • Medical specialists
  • Students at UC San Diego and SDSU

San Diego hosts Iranian cultural associations, Persian restaurants, and community groups that often support Team Melli during international tournaments.

This means Iran will have local fan support, even if modest, during its stay.

🐕 Who Plays at Estadio Caliente?

The training center is part of the infrastructure of Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente, commonly known as Xolos, a well‑supported Liga MX club founded in 2007.

Xolos:

  • Play in Liga MX, Mexico’s top division
  • Have a passionate fan base
  • Are known for their distinctive red‑and‑black branding
  • Use Estadio Caliente as their home stadium

The club’s facilities—including the Centro Xoloitzcuintle—have been steadily upgraded over the past decade.

📰 Why So Few Public Images Exist

Despite being a World Cup training site, the Centro Xoloitzcuintle remains unusually undocumented.
Reasons include:

  • It is private property, not a public sports complex
  • Media access is restricted
  • The facility is inside a casino–racetrack–stadium compound
  • FIFA’s upgrades were completed quietly and without public tours
  • Security considerations for Iran may have limited exposure further

The only widely circulated image is a REUTERS drone photograph, confirming the facility’s layout and readiness.

A Quiet but Smart Choice for Iran

While not flashy or heavily promoted, the Centro Xoloitzcuintle offers Iran:

  • Privacy
  • Security
  • A mild climate
  • Proximity to major host cities
  • Access to a supportive diaspora in nearby San Diego

In many ways, it is a perfect fit for Team Melli’s preparation style—focused, controlled, and away from unnecessary distractions.

Political Tensions Force Iranian Delegation to Rethink US World Cup Trip

The escalating political situation and the ongoing hostilities between the United States and Iran have forced the Iranian official delegation to reconsider its plans to accompany Team Melli to the 2026 World Cup in the United States.

It is standard practice for all participating nations to send an official delegation alongside their national team during the World Cup. These delegations typically include officials responsible for public relations, diplomacy, player support, and promotional activities. However, this year’s tournament, hosted by a hostile adversary that has attacked the country along with Israel, has introduced unprecedented complications.

Sources suggest that the government in Tehran has actively discouraged the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) from sending a large delegation. This caution stems in part from a recent episode involving Mehdi Taj, the head of the FFIRI, who encountered difficulties while transiting through Canada en route to the FIFA Annual Conference. That incident has reportedly heightened concerns among Iranian officials about traveling through North America.

From Tehran’s perspective, the United States remains a hostile nation capable of taking adverse actions against visiting Iranian officials. Fears range from arrests and politically motivated trials to systematic harassment at airports. Even if delegation members obtain legitimate U.S. visas, many Iranian officials believe that movement restrictions, prolonged interrogations, and public humiliation at points of entry are all but foregone conclusions.

Board Members Reluctant to Travel

As is customary, the FFIRI initially nominated several members of its Board of Directors to travel to the United States and accompany the national team during the tournament. However, it now appears that none of the board members are willing to make the trip and take risks.

To date, three board members—Ali Khatir, Heydar Baharvand, and Mohammad Rahman Salari, have officially canceled their travel plans to the United States. Six other members, Farideh Shojaei, Hojjat Karimi, Farzin Dabiri, Mohammad Esfandiarpour, Tahmoorth Heydari, and Ali Taheri, have yet to confirm their participation, and sources indicate they are unlikely to do so.

The sole exception is Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, the only board member currently present with Team Melli at their training camp in Antalya, Turkey. Serving as the national team’s manager, Nabi holds a dual role that involves direct oversight of the team’s day-to-day operations. While he remains committed to traveling to the United States, there is no guarantee he will be spared the difficulties expected to await Iranian officials on American soil.

Team’s Preparatory Schedule

Meanwhile, the national football team is continuing its preparations abroad. After completing their current phase of training in Turkey, Team Melli will travel to Mexico for the third stage of their pre-World Cup camp, based in Tijuana. From there, the squad is scheduled to fly directly to the United States for the tournament matches.

As the clock ticks down to kickoff, the absence of a full official delegation could impact not only logistical coordination but also Iran’s diplomatic and public relations presence at the world’s most-watched sporting event.