Iran to play final warm-up match before heading to World Cup amid US conflict

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleIran's national football team is set to conclude its World Cup preparations with a behind-closed-doors warm-up match in Turkey before travelling to its tournament base in Tijuana, Mexico. The team's participation in the global tournament has been overshadowed by ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly following US and Israeli airstrikes on the Islamic Republic. Fifa approved Iran's request to switch its World Cup base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, from where the squad will commute across the border for Group G matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington had "no problem" with the Iranian team entering the country but cautioned against allowing officials or staff with alleged links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to accompany them. Both the US and Canada designate the IRGC as a "terrorist entity," a classification that previously resulted in FFIRI President Mehdi Taj being denied entry to Canada due to his alleged ties to the elite military force. In fullIran confirm World Cup travel plans after training base switch from US to MexicoThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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