Iran has officially begun its journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after overcoming several challenges. Striker Mehdi Taremi has joined the squad, which traveled from Turkey to its training camp in Mexico ahead of the tournament. Before departure, players and officials followed a long-standing Iranian tradition by kissing the Holy Quran and walking under it, seeking Allah’s protection, guidance, and blessings for success.
The farewell ceremony in Antalya, Turkey, drew attention worldwide after videos of the ritual went viral on social media. In Iranian culture, the practice symbolizes faith, unity, and national pride before an important journey.
Despite preparations for the tournament, the team continues to face visa-related issues. While players have reportedly received US visas, several federation officials, administrative staff, and technical advisors are still awaiting approval. Iranian authorities and the Iran Football Federation have criticized the delays, calling them discriminatory and politically motivated.
Although all three of Iran’s group-stage matches will be played in the United States, the team has chosen Mexico as its training base due to the ongoing complications. Despite the off-field uncertainty, Iran heads into the World Cup in confident form after securing positive results in recent warm-up matches against Gambia and Mali.
