Antalya
Iran will play their final warm-up match ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 behind closed doors when they face Mali in Turkey on June 4, as head coach Amir Ghalenoei looks to fine-tune his squad before the tournament begins.
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) confirmed that the friendly in Antalya will be conducted without spectators or media access. Officials said the decision was made to support the tactical objectives of the coaching staff as Team Melli complete their preparations for the global showpiece.
Iran, one of the earliest nations to secure qualification for the expanded 48-team World Cup, have endured a challenging build-up to the tournament amid geopolitical tensions and travel-related complications. Their participation had briefly come under scrutiny following military tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel earlier this year.
Despite the uncertainty, the squad has continued preparations through training camps in Antalya. Iran have already played three friendly matches during their stay in Turkey, suffering a defeat to Nigeria while recording victories over Costa Rica and Gambia.
The closed-door encounter against Mali is expected to provide Ghalenoei with a final opportunity to assess tactical combinations and player fitness before the team departs for Mexico on June 7.
Iran’s World Cup preparations have also involved logistical adjustments. The FFIRI successfully negotiated with FIFA to relocate the team’s tournament base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. The move came amid concerns regarding travel arrangements and visa issues involving members of the Iranian delegation.
The situation gained additional attention after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that while the Iranian football team would be allowed entry into the United States, authorities would closely examine any delegation members with alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Both the United States and Canada classify the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
Further complications arose when FFIRI president Mehdi Taj was reportedly denied entry to Canada for the FIFA Congress due to his alleged connections to the military force.
Despite the off-field challenges, Iran remain focused on their World Cup ambitions. Team Melli will begin their campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles before facing Belgium on June 21. Their final group-stage match will be against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
With preparations entering their final phase, Iran hope to put external distractions aside and make a strong impression on football’s biggest stage.
