The tournament kit video reveals images from photo shoots and training sessions highlighting Team Melli’s preparations.
Published May 5, 2026
Iran’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup appear to be progressing well, with social media posts from the team’s official accounts hinting at upcoming tournament kits and showing the team training at an undisclosed location.
A video posted by Team Melli’s Instagram account on Monday showed players taking part in a photo shoot in what is believed to be Iran’s home kit for the World Cup.
Iran is in Group G of the World Cup and will play all their matches in the United States, which is co-hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico.
Several members of the Iranian squad, including first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Safar Beiranvand and winger Milad Mohammadi, were seen wearing the new kit in a series of social media posts.
Team Melli’s account also posted photos from a training session in Iran before the team headed to Turkiye for three pre-World Cup friendlies.
Since the United States and Israel began a war against Iran on February 28, the participation of Asia’s top teams in the tournament has become uncertain. It comes as Iranian officials questioned the US role as host and President Donald Trump suggested it might not be safe for Team Melli players to travel to their country for the championship.
However, recent statements from FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Iranian soccer officials have reaffirmed the country’s participation in the World Cup.
Infantino confirmed Iran will play in the United States in his opening remarks at the FIFA conference in Canada on Thursday.
“Let me say this first: Of course, Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. And of course, Iran will also play in the United States,” Infantino said.
President Trump later said he had “no problem” with Iran playing in the country.
“If Gianni said so, then I’m fine with it,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “You know what? Let them play.”
Iranian soccer officials have outlined the team’s training and preparations for the tournament, including camps at home and in neighboring Turkiye before traveling to the United States.
“The first stage of preparation will conclude with an intra-squad game on Wednesday,” assistant coach Saeed Alkhoei told Iranian sports news outlet Varzesh 3.
Matches will be played in stadiums, with players wearing official match kits equipped with international referees and video assistant referee technology (VAR) to simulate tournament-like conditions.
Coach Alhoei said the team will leave for Turkiye on Monday in final preparations before heading to the United States in June.
Team Melli will begin their match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15th, before facing Belgium at the same stadium on June 21st.
“We have three friendlies, two of which will probably be played behind closed doors against (local) club teams, and the third one will be against an African team,” Al-Khoei said. “It’s a quality team that will be a good simulation of when we play against African teams.”
Iran will play Egypt in the final group match on June 26 in Seattle.
Iran suffered a major blow on Monday when it was confirmed that winger Ali Gholizadeh had suffered a season-ending knee injury while playing for Lech Poznan in Poland.
Golizadeh, who was scheduled to start on the right wing at the World Cup, was carried off the pitch on a stretcher during last Saturday’s match against Motor Lublin, and subsequent tests confirmed he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
“Golizadeh will undergo surgery in the coming days, followed by several months of rehabilitation,” the club said in a statement.
