Iran's World Cup Team Given Grand Public Farewell in Tehran — Thousands at Enghelab Square as Visa Crisis Persists

Thousands of supporters gathered at Tehran's Enghelab Square on May 14 for a grand public farewell ceremony for Iran's national football team ahead of their Turkey training camp departure — described by federation president Mehdi Taj as 'the best send-off in the last four World Cup campaigns.' Coach Amir Ghalenoei led the squad at the ceremony, where Iran's official 2026 World Cup kit was unveiled. The spectacle underscored the national significance of the World Cup campaign despite the ongoing US visa crisis: as of May 14, not a single visa had been issued to any Iranian player or coaching staff member. The team is scheduled to travel to Antalya, Turkey, for a training camp featuring a warm-up friendly against Gambia on May 29, before traveling directly from Turkey to the United States for the tournament. The FIFA-Taj Zurich meeting on May 20 remains the last formal diplomatic channel before the June 1 final squad deadline.