Iran National Team to Play Puerto Rico Behind Closed Doors Ahead of World Cup

Hedayat Membini, Secretary General of the Football Federation, announced that the Iranian national football team will play a match against Puerto Rico behind closed doors as part of their preparations for the upcoming World Cup. Speaking on the sidelines of a government ceremony in Tehran, Membini confirmed that a game against Gambia is also certain. The federation is currently negotiating with one or two additional teams to arrange two official matches during the team's training camp in Turkey. This announcement comes amidst reports from Fars News, an outlet affiliated with the IRGC, stating that the national team requires immediate financial resources to fund its preparation program in Turkey, citing previously promised funds that have yet to be delivered. While unrelated text regarding a technology sponsorship involving Google Gemini and other national teams appears in the source material, the core news focuses on the Iranian team's logistical and financial challenges. The closed-door nature of the Puerto Rico match suggests specific strategic or security considerations by the federation as they finalize their pre-tournament schedule and address funding gaps to ensure adequate preparation.