TEHRAN – Team Melli, the Iranian national football team, departed for Antalya, Turkey, this morning (Monday, May 18, 2026) to commence a crucial training camp and a friendly match against Gambia. The provisional squad consists of 30 players, 22 domestic-based and eight legionnaires. However, with FIFA mandating a final roster of just 26 players, four will be cut following the camp.

Upon concluding their Turkish preparations, the squad is scheduled to move to their U.S. base at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, in early June, before heading to California for their first two World Cup matches. Team Melli manager Mohammad Nabi has indicated the possibility of facing another African side after Gambia, while expressing hope that the previously canceled friendly against Puerto Rico, originally planned on U.S. soil, might be revived.

Visa Hurdles Loom Large

Yet overshadowing these plans is a growing concern over entry to the United States. As of now, no member of the Iranian delegation, players or staff, has been granted permission to enter the country. The possibility that some staff members or players could be denied a U.S. visa remains very real, casting a pall over the team’s logistical preparations.

When asked whether FIFA had secured any assurances regarding entry and visa arrangements for Iran’s players, FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafstrom declined to elaborate. His reticence signaled that the world football governing body may have little to no influence on such matters, despite public assurances previously given by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

A Troubling Precedent

Compounding these anxieties is the recent experience of Mehdi Taj, the head of Iran’s football federation, who encountered significant difficulties entering Canada for a FIFA conference. Although Canada is only fractionally less hostile to Iran than the United States, the incident serves as a stark warning of the type of challenges the Iranian delegation will likely face when attempting to enter North America.

For a squad already grappling with a plethora of issues, ranging from finalizing the roster to managing political pressures and logistical hurdles, the threat of visa denials represents an added burden before a single ball is even kicked in the World Cup.