Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup was once questioned after the nation experienced attacks from the US and Israel from 28/2, escalating regional tensions. For the first time in nearly 100 years of World Cup history, a host nation is in conflict with a participating team.

Iranian players during a 3-1 friendly victory against Gambia at the Mardan sports complex, Antalya, Turkey on 29/5/2026. *Reuters*

"That will certainly be very difficult for us because the players are always following news from home. Political issues can affect the morale of players as well as the public," ESPN quoted Ezatolahi on 3/6.

Ezatolahi, who participated in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, was training with the Iranian national team in Turkey. He and his teammates have been staying there for over two weeks, primarily training in Antalya. Some members also traveled to the capital Ankara to complete visa application procedures at the US Embassy.

Iran's preparation process for the 2026 World Cup has been kept confidential, with very few opportunities for international media to access the players.

Iran is expected to depart for Mexico this weekend after receiving visas from the Mexican Embassy in Ankara. The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) stated that all team members have completed entry procedures.

Visa-related issues forced Iran's pre-World Cup training camp to relocate from Tucson, Arizona, US, to Tijuana, Mexico, near the California border.

Iran will play their first two matches near Los Angeles, home to a large Iranian community, many of whom oppose the current government in Tehran.

"We will certainly receive tremendous support in the stands," Ezatolahi said. "That will also be a source of pressure because expectations for the team are very high. I only hope we can make them proud and demonstrate that Iranians are always ready to face difficult challenges."

Members of the Iranian national football team attend a farewell ceremony before departing for the 2026 World Cup in Tehran on 13/5/2026. *Reuters*

Mohammad Ghorbani is preparing for his first World Cup. "It is true that we are experiencing special circumstances, but we are football players. Our duty is to play, train, and prepare for the upcoming matches," said the player currently playing in Abu Dhabi.

The 24-year-old midfielder added that the entire team understands the difficulties the Iranian people have faced recently. "We are coming to this tournament for our people, with the goal of achieving the best results to bring joy to them and to the nation," Ghorbani said.

According to the schedule, Iran is only required to enter the US on 14/6, one day before their opening Group G match against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Rams' stadium in Inglewood. The team will then play Belgium in Inglewood on 21/6 before concluding the group stage with a match against Egypt in Seattle on 26/6.

"I am very proud to wear the national team jersey," Ezatolahi added. "We need to put aside external thoughts to maintain the best mindset. The team's goal and responsibility are to fight for the people, represent the nation, and demonstrate their capabilities."

Ghorbani also emphasized the team's spirit of unity: "The biggest message the Iranian national team wants to convey right now is the importance of unity. We are a collective under one flag, capable of bringing joy to the nation and showing the world the strength of Iranian players and people."

Hong Duy (according to ESPN)