A number of players from the Iranian national football team, along with a member of the coaching staff, went to the US embassy in Ankara in preparation for participating in the 2026 World Cup.
According to Agence France-Presse, four players wearing sportswear, accompanied by a member of the coaching staff, arrived at the US embassy on Thursday morning, in a move aimed at finalizing the visa application process for travel to the United States, one of the host countries for the tournament along with Canada and Mexico.
The Iranian national football team is holding a training camp in the Turkish city of Antalya, as part of its preparations for the World Cup, amid a complex political atmosphere between Tehran and Washington, despite continued cooperation through sports channels under the umbrella of FIFA.
Reports also indicated that similar procedures were expected to take place at the Canadian embassy, as part of completing travel visas for the countries hosting the tournament.
This comes at a time when the Iranian national team is continuing its preparations for the World Cup through friendly matches, as it is scheduled to face Gambia and Mali during the preparation period.
The Iranian national team will begin its World Cup campaign in Group G against New Zealand, before meeting Belgium and then Egypt in the group stage.
