TEHRAN - Iran will play its final World Cup warm-up match behind closed doors in Turkey on Thursday, the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) announced Wednesday. The squad will then depart for its tournament base in Tijuana, Mexico, on Saturday.
The team has trained in Antalya since late February, playing three friendlies: losses to Nigeria, and wins over Costa Rica and Gambia. Thursday's match against Mali will be closed to media and the public, with the FFIRI citing "tactical objectives."
Iran's World Cup participation has been uncertain since U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted the Islamic Republic in February. The FFIRI secured FIFA approval to move its base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, citing security and logistics. From Mexico, the team will commute to Los Angeles for group matches against New Zealand (June 15) and Belgium. Their final Group G match against Egypt is in Seattle.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Tuesday that Washington has "no problem" with the Iranian team entering the country, but will deny entry to any delegation members linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Both the U.S. and Canada classify the IRGC as a terrorist entity. FFIRI President Mehdi Taj was denied entry to Canada in April due to his IRGC ties.