Iran's Persian Gulf Pro League was suspended in late February after US and Israel air strikes on the country, halting domestic play until after the World Cup [1, 2]. Most Iranian players have been inactive for around seven weeks, limited to a national team training camp in Tehran since friendlies against Costa Rica and Nigeria in late March [1, 2].
On May 17, coach Amir Ghalenoei named a 30-man preliminary World Cup squad, with 22 players from Iranian clubs among them [1, 2]. Iran departed for a two-and-a-half to three-week training camp in Turkey on May 19 as they prepare for the tournament [1, 2].
Ghalenoei acknowledged the team’s lack of readiness but expressed hope the camp would reduce the shortfall by 20 to 25 percent. He said, "Naturally, I am not fully satisfied with the players' level of readiness. But with a training camp that is approximately two and a half to three weeks long, we can make up about 20 to 25% of this shortfall" [1]. He added, "We must continue our work in the Turkey camp with determination and optimism" and hoped to reach suitable physical condition before their opening World Cup match [2].
Iran will play a friendly against Gambia on May 29 and aims to schedule another match in Turkey. They also plan a behind-closed-doors friendly against Puerto Rico in Arizona, pending US entry clearance [1, 2].
The final 26-man squad must be submitted by June 1 [1, 2]. Iran's World Cup group-stage fixtures include matches against New Zealand on June 15, Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle [1, 2].