Iran’s men’s team trained in southern Turkey on Wednesday as it prepares for two upcoming friendlies ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, where it is likely to attract heightened attention against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
The team held a training session in Belek, a resort area near the Mediterranean city of Antalya, with tightly restricted media access as officials said they wanted to avoid distractions ahead of the matches described as critical to their World Cup preparations.
IRAN’S FIFA WORLD CUP WARM-UP SCHEDULE:
| Date | Match | Kick-off time | Venue |
| March 27 | Iran vs Nigeria | 4 pm local time (4:30 pm IRST) | Corendon Airlines Park , Antalya |
| March 31 | Iran vs Costa Rica | 4 pm local time (4:30 pm IRST) | Corendon Airlines Park , Antalya |
Iran’s football federation is in discussions with world governing body FIFA about moving its World Cup matches to Mexico from the United States due to concerns over player safety, federation President Mehdi Taj said last week.
In Belek, no interviews with players or coaches were made available, and a team media representative said the squad was focussed entirely on its immediate competitive programme.
The players appeared relaxed during the session in sunny conditions, with staff and players at times chatting and joking.
Among those present was forward Mehdi Taremi, who has been in the spotlight in recent days after swapping shirts with an Israeli opponent while playing for his club Olympiacos in Greece.
(with inputs from Reuters)
Published on Mar 26, 2026
