Thousands of Iranian supporters gathered in Tehran on Wednesday evening to see off the national football team before their departure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the Iranian team remains in the spotlight, with concerns about their safety still prevalent.

The players addressed the crowd and gave patriotic speeches, while Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj stated, "Players and supporters embody the dignity, honor, and strength of our country."

Iran had previously requested that the group stage matches be moved to Mexico, but FIFA has repeatedly refused to change the tournament schedule. The team will play all three group matches in the United States: two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

The Iranian team will first travel to a training camp in Turkey, where they plan to play three or four friendly matches. The exact list of opponents has yet to be fully announced, but stronger rivals and closed-door games are expected.

The matches for Iran in the World Cup are scheduled as follows:

Los Angeles:

  • June 15: Iran vs. New Zealand, 21:00
  • June 21: Belgium vs. Iran, 15:00

Seattle:

  • June 26: Egypt vs. Iran

Despite the concerns, the Iranian team is determined to represent their country with pride and honor on the global stage.