Iran Open World Cup Preparation With Comeback Win Over Gambia
Iran began their World Cup preparations with a 3-1 friendly win over Gambia in Antalya on Friday, scoring three times in 20 second-half minutes after trailing at the break. Olympiacos forward Mehdi Taremi was among the scorers. Team Melli, based in Mexico and still awaiting United States visas, open Group G against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
I ran began their World Cup preparations with a 3-1 friendly win over Gambia in Antalya, Turkey, on Friday. After a quiet first half, Team Melli turned the game around with a burst of second-half goals to start their build-up to the tournament on a positive note.
A second-half comeback
Iran trailed 1-0 at half-time before launching their response, scoring three times in the space of 20 minutes early in the second half. Among the scorers was Olympiacos forward Mehdi Taremi, who joined the Greek club from Inter Milan in 2025 and remains Iran's focal point in attack.
Visas pending, base in Mexico
Iran's players are still waiting for the visas they need to enter the United States, where they will play all three of their group-stage matches. The team has moved its tournament base to Mexico, a decision tied to tensions between Iran and the United States over the war in the Middle East. The arrangement leaves Iran preparing across borders in the final weeks before kickoff.
Group G in Los Angeles and Seattle
Iran have one more warm-up before the tournament, against Mali in Antalya next Thursday. They then open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, where they also face Belgium, before closing the group against Egypt in Seattle. Group G pits Iran against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.
Reporting: AFP, May 29, 2026.