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Created: 18 May 2026

ANTALYA, Turkey, May 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's football team arrived in Turkey on Monday for a training camp and to complete visa applications ahead of the 2026 World Cup, AFP correspondents said.

The 22 players and coaching staff in the "Team Melli" delegation flew into the Turkish resort of Antalya where they could be seen leaving the airport dressed in navy blue tracksuits.

The players were to stay several weeks before heading to the global tournament that is being co-hosted by the United States, which began bombing Iran on February 28 alongside Israel, sparking war.

The team will be based in Arizona in the US and play all three of their group matches there in spite of the war, which has been temporarily halted by a ceasefire since April 8.

But with negotiations in the doldrums, new weekend drone attacks on Gulf countries and fresh threats from US President Donald Trump have heightened fears that fighting could resume.

The team are hoping to play two friendlies in Antalya, including one against The Gambia on May 29, according to Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team and is working to set up a second match.

Iran and the US cut diplomatic ties in 1980 and the players will use their time in Turkey to complete visa applications, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Saturday.

- 'Let 'em play' -

Iran secured their spot at the World Cup in March 2025, but since then the United States has twice launched attacks on the country.

US officials have insisted Iran is welcome at the tournament, while the FIFA organisers have rejected Iranian suggestions that their games be moved to co-hosts Mexico or Canada.

"Let 'em play," Trump said in late April.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any problem would not be with Iranian players but "some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them", suggesting some may have ties to the Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has branded a terrorist organisation.

Last month, officials from Iran's football federation abandoned a trip to the FIFA congress in Canada, saying they had been "insulted" by Canadian immigration officers.

One of their delegation, Mehdi Taj, is a former member of the Revolutionary Guards, which Canada has also designated a terror group.

"No visas have been issued yet," Taj, who heads Iran's football federation, told Iranian media on Thursday.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the federation, describing it as constructive, as did Taj.

The squad's US base camp will be in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, who are in Group G, kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

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Created: 13 April 2015

Edmonton, Canada (April 12, 2015): Mahinur Jahid Memorial Soccer Match was held at the premises of  Alex Taylor School (E4C) in the Edmonton City of Canada on Sunday, the 12^th of April, 2015 . Edmonton Lathials (Tanvir, Khademul, Masud, Shan) takes home the championship title while Edmonton Jomidars (Rusel, Rocky, Tajul, Mizan) group become Runners-up and other Edmonton Jodhas group players were Roney, Anis, Robin, Sabree, Mirza Bashir and Nigar.Prior to inauguration, Ahsan Ullah introduced all the players to the chief guest Delwar Jahid, President of Bangladesh PressClub of Alberta.

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Created: 26 February 2015

MELBOURNE, Feb 26, 2015 (BSS/AFP) - Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed an unbeaten 161 off 146 balls and Kumar Sangakkara marked his 400th one-dayer with a century as Sri Lanka whipped butter-fingered Bangladesh by 92 runs in the World Cup on Thursday.

Sri Lanka, who were dismissed for 233 by New Zealand and then struggled to chase down Afghanistan's 232, finally came good with the bat after electing to take first strike.

Dilshan and Sangakkara, who hit 105 not out in his landmark match, lifted the Islanders to a mammoth 332 for one that proved too hot to chase for Bangladesh, who folded up for 240 with three overs to spare.

Sri Lanka were helped along by a shoddy fielding display by Bangladesh, whose maiden appearance at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground was marred by five missed chances.

Dilshan put on 122 for the first wicket with Lahiru Thirimanne (52) and an undefeated 210 for the second with Sangakkara, who added two catches and a stumping to his 22nd one-day century.

Sangakkara, 37, became only the fourth cricketer -- and the third Sri Lankan after Sanath Jayasuriya (445) and current team-mate Mahela Jayawardene (444) -- to play 400 one-day internationals.

The list is headed by retired Indian star Sachin Tendulkar with 463 ODIs.

Dilshan compiled one-day cricket's highest individual that did not contain a six -- he hit 22 fours -- as he anchored the innings to carry his bat in front of some 30,000 spectators.

Left-handed Thirimanne survived three missed chances in his half-century which followed his 65 in the tournament opener against New Zealand.

Anamul Haque spilled a waist-high catch in the first over off Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who then had an edge go past the wicketkeeper and first slip when Thirimanne was on 22.

The batsman moved to 44 when Mushfiqur Rahim missed a stumping off Sabbir Rahman, but Thirimanne's luck ran out as an airy cut off seamer Rubel Hossain was snapped up by third man.

Sangakkara had made only 23 when he top-edged a short ball from Taskin Ahmed, but the ball spilled out of the bowler's hand as he dived forward to hold the catch.

Sangakkara completed his 94th one-day 50 by sweeping Shakib Al Hasan for his eighth boundary, but escaped a second time soon after when Mominul Haque dropped a catch at point off Rubel.

The 37-year-old reached his century in the final over to complete a total domination by the Sri Lankan batsmen of the Bangladeshi attack.

Bangladesh lost flamboyant opener Tamim Iqbal off the second ball, bowled by Lasith Malinga, and slipped to 41 for three by the seventh over.

Anamul's misery in Melbourne mounted when, after making a stroke-filled 29, he charged down the wicket for a non-existent single and was run out by a direct throw from Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews.

Sabbir Rahman top-scored with 53 and Shakib made 46 during a sixth-wicket stand of 64 with Rahim, but their effort came too late to cause a dramatic change of fortunes for Bangladesh.

Malinga finished with three wickets, with Suranga Lakmal and Dilshan claiming two each.

Sri Lanka brought in batsman Dinesh Chandimal in place of all-rounder Jeevan Mendis, who was ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury.

Bangladesh retained the same side that defeated Afghanistan in their first game. Their match against co-hosts Australia was washed out.

Sri Lanka, who have four points from three games, take on England next in Wellington on Sunday. Bangladesh, left with three points from as many matches, play Scotland in Nelson on March 5.