Iran to play World Cup warm-up behind closed doors, head to Mexico on Saturday

Iran will play its final World Cup warm-up behind closed doors in Turkey on Thursday before departing for a tournament base in Mexico on Saturday, the Iranian FA (FFIRI) said on Wednesday

Iran will play its final World Cup warm-up behind closed doors in Turkey on Thursday before departing for a tournament base in Mexico on Saturday, the Iranian FA (FFIRI) said on Wednesday.

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Although it was one of the first teams to qualify, Iran‘s participation in the World Cup has been in doubt since the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February.

The squad has played three friendlies in two training camps in Antalya since the start of the war — losing to Nigeria and beating Costa Rica and Gambia — and on Thursday will face Mali in the Turkish sea resort.