Iran to play closed-door World Cup warm-up against Mali before Mexico trip

Iran will hold a FIFA World Cup warm-up match behind closed doors against Mali in Turkey on Thursday, before travelling to Mexico on Saturday, the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) announced on Wednesday.

Although Iran qualified early for the World Cup, their participation was uncertain due to the West Asia conflict. Since the conflict began, the Iranian team has conducted two training camps in Antalya and played three friendly matches, suffering a loss to Nigeria but securing wins against Costa Rica and Gambia.

The final pre-tournament fixture against Mali will be held at the Turkish coastal resort before the squad’s departure for Mexico. The FFIRI stated, “Considering the importance of the Iranian national football team’s friendly match against Mali, and in line with the tactical objectives of Iran’s head coach, tomorrow’s match against Mali will be held behind closed doors and without media attendance.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington had “no problem” with the Iranian team entering the country but would not permit officials or staff with links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to accompany the squad. Rubio added, “What we’re not going to allow is for them to embed in their delegation a bunch of people that we know have nothing to do with athletics and have ties to the IRGC or things of that nature, so we were going to watch that very closely.”

Last month, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that Mexico had “no issue” hosting Iran’s national football team during the FIFA World Cup 2026, after the team shifted its training base from the United States to Mexico amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Sheinbaum revealed at a press conference that FIFA approached Mexican officials after the US expressed reservations about Iran staying on US territory outside matchdays. She said, “The United States doesn’t want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States.”

According to Sheinbaum, a FIFA representative then asked Mexican authorities, “Can they stay overnight in Mexico?” Sheinbaum responded, “And we said, ‘Yes, no problem. We have no issue with that.’”

Iran’s group-stage matches are set to take place in the United States. They will face New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15, Belgium at the same venue on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.