Iran Holds Send-Off Ceremony for National Football Team Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Iran held a public send-off ceremony on Wednesday for its national football team as they prepare to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The event took place at Enghelab Square in central Tehran, where players dressed in red and black tracksuits were presented to cheering crowds. Key figures including coach Amir Ghalenoei and Football Federation President Mehdi Taj attended the ceremony. Taj declared the squad the 'national football team of wartime,' emphasizing their role as pillars of authority and resistance representing the country and its leadership. The atmosphere was highly charged, with attendees waving flags and holding placards referencing martyrs and the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, amidst a backdrop of reported US-Israel attacks triggering regional conflict. Iran is scheduled to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the tournament. They are drawn in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, with their opening match set against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
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