Iran footballers describe how war with US-Israel affects their World Cup

Key points

• Iran is heading to the World Cup while the country is at war with a host nation, a situation that is unique in the tournament’s history.
• The United States-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, and there has been an uneasy ceasefire in place since April 8, but the uncertainty – and occasional flare-up in hostilities – means an end to the conflict is far from certain.
• For the Iranian players and staff, the situation has thrown their World Cup preparations into chaos – all of their matches are scheduled to be played in the US.
• The Iran team has spent more than two weeks in Turkiye, mostly practising at the coastal resort Antalya, and some travelled to the capital, Ankara, to submit visa applications at the US embassy.
• The team’s participation in the event in the US, Canada and Mexico has long been in doubt and, with the...