Iran boosted its World Cup preparations with a convincing 3-1 comeback victory over The Gambia in an international friendly played in Turkey on Friday, overcoming an early setback before producing a strong second-half performance.
The Asian giants found themselves trailing 1-0 at halftime after The Gambia took advantage of their opportunities in the opening 45 minutes. However, Iran responded impressively after the break, scoring three goals within a 20-minute spell to secure the win and build momentum ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
One of the standout performers was experienced striker Mehdi Taremi, who found the back of the net during Iran’s second-half resurgence. Taremi, who plays club football for Greek champions Olympiacos, remains one of Iran’s most important attacking threats heading into the global tournament.
The victory comes during a challenging period for the Iranian national team, which continues to deal with off-field uncertainties linked to travel arrangements for the World Cup. Due to ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran, the team was forced to relocate its World Cup base camp from the United States to Tijuana, Mexico, despite all three of its group-stage matches being scheduled to take place in the US.
Iranian players and officials are also still awaiting the issuance of visas required to enter the United States for the tournament. The situation has raised concerns within the country’s football federation, which has sought clarification from FIFA regarding the status of the travel documents.
Despite the uncertainty, team officials have insisted that preparations remain on track. Iran Football Federation official and team coordinator Mahdi Mohammad Nabi said the squad was focused on football and determined not to allow external issues to become distractions.
According to Nabi, the national team has experience dealing with challenges at major international tournaments and is approaching the situation professionally. He stressed that players are concentrating on training, tactics and match preparation rather than political developments surrounding the tournament.
Iran winger Mohammad Mohebbi also praised The Gambia following the friendly encounter, describing African teams as physically strong and highly competitive opponents. Mohebbi, who currently plays for Russian side Rostov, said the Iranian squad had endured demanding training sessions leading up to the match and entered the game feeling fatigued.
However, he credited the team’s resilience and determination for the dramatic turnaround in the second half, which ultimately secured the victory.
The United States State Department recently stated that President Donald Trump had made it clear that the Iranian national team would be welcomed to participate in the World Cup. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains over the timing of visa approvals for players, coaching staff and officials.
Iran will continue its preparations with another friendly match scheduled for next Thursday in Antalya, Turkey, where they will face Mali. The fixture is expected to provide another important test before the team travels to North America.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, running from June 11 to July 19. Iran’s opening match is scheduled against New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15.
With World Cup excitement building, Iran will be hoping that administrative issues are resolved quickly so the focus can remain firmly on football as they aim to make a strong impact on the biggest stage in world sport.
