TEHRAN, May 17 – Iran’s squad will fly to Turkey on Monday for a training camp, where they will also play friendly matches and complete visa work before travelling to the United States, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Saturday.
A total of 30 players will travel for the camp, but only 26 will make the final World Cup squad. One of the most well-known names in the group is 33-year-old former Porto striker Mehdi Taremi, who now plays for Olympiacos.
Speaking about the team selection, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said it was certainly a difficult job in which he took some tough calls on the basis of ‘technical criteria’.
“Selecting 30 players for this final training camp ahead of the World Cup was the most difficult technical decision of my coaching career,” said Amir Ghalenoei.
Iran are aiming to feature in two friendly games in Antalya. A fixture against Gambia on May 29 has already been confirmed, said Sam Mehdizadeh, who manages a company that organizes friendlies for the team.
Iran and the United States have not maintained diplomatic relations since 1980, so the squad is expected to use their time in Turkey to sort out the visa paperwork needed for travel.
“No visas have been issued yet,” said the Iranian football federation head, Mehdi Taj.
Taj said the players would likely have to give fingerprints in Turkey as part of getting their visas, but they want to avoid travelling more than 450 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara for the process.
Taj is also expected to meet FIFA president Gianni Infantino, as Iran looks for guarantees about their team’s safety and arrangements due to rising tensions linked to the ongoing war.
Iran will start their World Cup matches against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, then play Belgium in the same city, before facing Egypt in Seattle in Group G.
