Before Iran can think about facing Belgium or Egypt, they need to get into the country hosting their group stage matches. The entire squad attended visa appointments in Ankara on Thursday — Canadian visas for all, US visas for those who hadn't already applied before the war began.
It's a logistical reality that no other nation at the 2026 World Cup has to navigate. Iran are scheduled to play all three of their group games on US soil — New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in LA on June 21, then Egypt in Seattle five days later. Canada only becomes relevant if they advance past the group, but the federation is covering all bases.
Seven weeks without competitive football
The visa situation is only part of the story. Iran's domestic league was suspended after US and Israeli strikes on the country began on February 28, leaving the bulk of the squad without a competitive match for seven weeks. Coach Amir Ghalenoei is now trying to rebuild fitness and sharpness from scratch at a training camp in Antalya, which is why the Turkey base makes sense beyond just visa logistics.
Some foreign-based players joined the squad in Ankara before travelling south to the Mediterranean coast. Those players at least have club football behind them. The domestically-based contingent are playing catch-up in a way that should genuinely concern anyone looking at Iran's group-stage odds — rust this deep doesn't disappear in a fortnight of training camp sessions.
A friendly against Gambia on May 29 should give Ghalenoei something to work with before he finalises his 26-man squad for FIFA's June 1 deadline. One match to assess fitness, cohesion, and whether seven weeks on the sideline has left any lasting damage.
A World Cup campaign built on uncertainty
Iran qualified early for the expanded 48-team tournament, which at the time looked like good news. Now that early qualification just means they've had longer to watch preparations unravel. Travel uncertainty, a suspended league, visa appointments in a third country — this is not the build-up any squad wants going into a major tournament.
Whatever happens on the pitch, they've already cleared hurdles most footballers never face. The question is whether any of that adversity translates into a team that's galvanised, or one that arrives in Los Angeles undercooked and distracted.
Ghalenoei will find out on June 15.
