Iran’s domestic league players set for national training camp
The Iranian national team players of the Persian Gulf Pro League will take part in a Team Melli training camp in northern Iran from April 14.
Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei has made the decision to make sure his players would retain their match fitness amid the domestic league's ongoing postponement.
All Iranian top-flight matches have been called off since February 28, following the breakout of a military conflict between Iran and a US-Israeli coalition.
Despite all domestic and international flights canceled in the country, the Iranian national team took an exhausting road trip to Antalya, Turkey, for a couple of friendly games in the latest FIFA international break.
Team Melli fell to a 2-1 loss to Nigeria on March 27, before bouncing back to hammer Costa Rica 5-0 four days later.
The upcoming training camp will be part of Iran's preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be cohosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11.
Iran is set to kick off its Group G campaign against New Zealand at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on June 16, before facing Belgium at the same venue five days later.
The final round of the group fixtures will see Iran take on Egypt in Seattle, Washington, on June 26.
Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Friday that the Football Federations of Iran and Turkey are in talks over a friendly game between the two national teams ahead of the global showpiece in North America.
However, questions still remain regarding Iran's World Cup participation after Donyamali said that the country's National Security Council "will make a final call on the matter."
Last week, the Sports Ministry prohibited all Iranian teams and athletes from visiting "adversary countries" for safety reasons amid the ongoing war in the region.