SOCCER: Iran team trains in Turkey for World Cup

Iran hit the training pitch at their camp in Turkey on Thursday (May 28) as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup to be hosted in Mexico, Canada and the United States starting June 11.

Iran is due to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

The squad was originally slated to stay in Arizona, but will now stay in Tijuana, Mexico, just over the border from San Diego, California.

Iran's World Cup plans have been under scrutiny since late February, when the United States joined Israel in attacks on Iran, triggering a war that raised doubts over whether Tehran would send its team to play in one of the host countries.

Iran qualified for a fourth consecutive World Cup by topping its group in the third round of Asian qualifying last year.

-Mert Ozkan, Kurt Michael Hall/Reuters