Iran’s men’s national football team has commenced their training in southern Turkey ahead of important World Cup warm-up matches, with sessions being closely monitored due to prevailing regional tensions.
The team held their training on Wednesday in Belek, a resort area located near Antalya on the Mediterranean coast, while restricting journalist access. Officials stated that these measures are intended to reduce distractions before what they are labeling crucial matches for the squad’s preparations for the World Cup.
Additionally, the Iranian football federation is engaging in discussions with FIFA about the possibility of shifting the location of their World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, as expressed by federation president Mehdi Taj last week, citing security concerns.
As preparations ramp up, team officials have maintained a low public profile in anticipation of increased scrutiny from both political and media outlets during the tournament.
During the session in Belek, players and coaching staff refrained from giving interviews, with a media representative for the team indicating that the squad is concentrating on their immediate competitive objectives.
Iran is scheduled to play two friendly matches in Antalya, first clashing with Nigeria on Friday and then facing Costa Rica on Tuesday. These matches were initially planned to take place in Jordan but were relocated to Turkey following the onset of the conflict in Iran.
Players appeared at ease during training in the warm, sunny weather, engaging in light-hearted conversations with the coaching staff.
Forward Mehdi Taremi was present after recently gaining attention for swapping jerseys with an Israeli player while competing for Olympiacos in Greece. In contrast, striker Sardar Azmoun was omitted from the lineup after sharing a photograph on Instagram of himself with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, which led to reports of his removal from the national team as officials interpreted it as disloyalty.
In total, Azmoun has netted 57 goals in 91 international appearances.
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