Iran will complete their final World Cup warm-up match behind closed doors in Turkey on Thursday before travelling to their tournament base in Mexico on Saturday, according to the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI).

Despite being among the first teams to secure qualification, Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been overshadowed by uncertainty following reported U.S. and Israeli air strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, the squad has continued its preparations in Antalya, holding two training camps and playing three friendlies. Their results have included a defeat to Nigeria and victories over Costa Rica and Gambia.

On Thursday, Iran are scheduled to face Mali in the Turkish coastal resort as part of their final preparations for the tournament.

In a statement, the FFIRI confirmed the match will take place without spectators or media presence, citing tactical considerations from the national team’s coaching staff: “Considering the importance of the Iranian national football team’s friendly match against Mali, and in line with the tactical objectives of Iran’s head coach, tomorrow’s match will be held behind closed doors and without media attendance.”

The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) successfully persuaded FIFA to approve a change to the national team’s World Cup base, moving it from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. From there, the squad will commute across the border for their opening two Group G matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles.

Their final group-stage fixture against Egypt is scheduled to take place in Seattle.

On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington had “no problem” with the Iranian team entering the country for the tournament. However, he clarified that officials or staff with alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would not be permitted to accompany the squad.

“What we’re not going to allow is for them to embed in their delegation a bunch of people that we know have nothing to do with athletics and have ties to the IRGC or things of that nature, so we are going to watch that very closely,” Rubio said during a House of Representatives committee hearing.

Both the United States and Canada, co-hosts of the World Cup alongside Mexico, classify the IRGC as a “terrorist entity.”

FFIRI president Mehdi Taj was previously denied entry into Canada for the FIFA Congress in April due to his reported links to the organisation.

Iran are set to begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 15.