Tehran, Iran: Thousands of fans gathered at Enghelab Square on May 13, 2026, to send off Iran’s national football team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
The event featured the unveiling of Iran’s new national kit and patriotic speeches. FFIRI President Mehdi Taj called it the best send-off in the last four World Cup campaigns.
Team Melli will hold a training camp in Turkey before the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran will play all three group-stage matches in the United States.
Concerns remain over entry visas for players and officials due to US and Canadian designations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. FFIRI is relying on FIFA to secure visas on time.
Read: Iran World Cup Visas Cloud Tehran Send-Off Rally
The team will play a warm-up match against The Gambia in Antalya, Turkey, on May 29 ahead of the World Cup.
