Iran plans to arrive in US two weeks before 2026 World Cup: head coach

Iran national football team head coach Amir Ghalenoei said Wednesday that the team plans to arrive in the United States 14 days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite the current tensions with the U.S., the team held another training session in the capital Tehran.

Speaking to media, Ghalenoei said its ongoing training will help the team perform strongly at the World Cup, adding that Iran still needs to arrange two or three high-quality warm-up matches.

"We must turn problems into opportunities. This is something our country has been doing for three decades, and we are confident that the national football team will do the same," said Ghalenoei.

As part of its efforts to boost readiness, the team will leave for Türkiye on May 16 for a two-week training camp.

Even for all the preparations, political frictions continue to cast a shadow over Iran's participation in the World Cup. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously said that the Iranian team should skip the tournament "for their own life and safety."

Mehdi Taj, president of the Iran Football Federation, said they are working to make the best decision regarding participation in the World Cup.

Iran has been drawn in Group G for the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

The Iranian team is scheduled to open its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by a match against Belgium at the same venue on June 21. Its final group match is set for June 26 against Egypt in Seattle.

China's foreign exchange reserves stood at 3.4105 trillion U.S. dollars at the end of April 2026, up 68.4 billion dollars, or 2.05 percent, from the end of March, official data showed on Thursday.

The State Administration of Foreign Exchange noted that in April, the U.S. dollar index declined, while prices of major global financial assets saw mixed performances, influenced by the macroeconomic data, as well as monetary policies and expectations of major economies.

The combined effects of exchange rate conversion and changes in asset prices led to a increase in China's foreign exchange reserves during the month, the administration said.

China's economy registered steady and improving performance during the period, featuring resilient and dynamic development. Its steady performance provided solid support for keeping the scale of the country's foreign exchange reserves basically stable, according to the administration.