Iran beat Mali in final warm-up before heading to World Cup

Iran bushed Mali successful their last competitory lucifer earlier departing for their Mexico basal for the 2026 World Cup.

Iran volition caput disconnected to their World Cup basal ⁠this play with ⁠a outpouring successful their measurement aft beating Mali 2-0 successful a affable successful Turkiye, adjacent if immoderate uncertainty inactive clouds their ⁠participation successful the tournament.

Goals from midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi and close backmost Ramin Rezaeian either broadside of half-time connected Thursday gave Team Melli a grounds of 3 wins and ⁠a azygous nonaccomplishment successful their 4 friendlies this twelvemonth successful the Turkish edifice metropolis of Antalya.

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The friendlies are the lone competitory shot the Iran-based players person contested since the home league was suspended successful the aftermath of US and Israel ‌air strikes connected the Islamic republic successful precocious February that triggered a determination war.

The squad person received visas for Mexico, officials confirmed this week, and volition permission Turkiye connected Saturday for their tourney basal successful the borderline metropolis of Tijuana.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to big the squad aft being told that the US authorities did not privation Iran staying successful their archetypal ⁠base successful Arizona passim the June 11 to July 19 ⁠tournament.

The squad person not yet received the visas they volition request to get into the US to play their radical games against New Zealand and Belgium successful Los Angeles and Egypt successful ⁠Seattle, however.

Iranian FA (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj told Iranian media this week that the US visas were the main interest ⁠for the federation arsenic Iran’s tourney opener against New ⁠Zealand connected June 15 approaches.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said connected Tuesday determination was “no problem” with the Iran squad entering the country, but Washington would not fto officials oregon unit with ties ‌to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) travel them.

Both the US and Canada, who are cohosting the World Cup with Mexico, classify the IRGC arsenic a “terrorist entity”.

Taj was ‌refused ‌entry into Canada for the FIFA Congress successful precocious April due to the fact that of his links to the elite subject force.