Iran Sends Off World Cup Team With Wartime Chants Ahead of 2026 Tournament in US

Iran’s national football team received an emotionally charged farewell in Tehran on Wednesday as the country prepared to send its squad to the 2026 FIFA World Cup amid lingering tensions from the Middle East conflict.

Thousands gathered at Enghelab Square in central Tehran to cheer on the players, who appeared on stage wearing red and black tracksuits ahead of their departure for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The ceremony, broadcast on Iranian state television, blended football celebration with strong political and nationalist messaging linked to the recent war involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

Amir Ghalenoei and Mehdi Taj attended the event alongside supporters waving Iranian flags and chanting patriotic slogans.

Speaking during the ceremony, Taj described the squad as representing not only football but also national resistance during a difficult period for the country.

“The national team players in the World Cup will represent the people, the country’s fighters, the leader, and the country,” he said.

He further described the squad as “the national football team of wartime,” adding that the players would serve as “a pillar of authority and resistance” for Iran on the global stage.

Some supporters carried portraits of late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who Iranian state media said was killed during the recent US-Israel attacks that escalated tensions across the Middle East. Placards displayed at the gathering urged players to honour those killed in the conflict.

“For the blood of the martyrs, sing the national anthem with firmness and without hesitation,” one banner read during the send-off event.

Iran will camp in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup and have been drawn in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.

The Iranian side is scheduled to begin its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.