Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, will face a tightly guarded Iranian side in Friday’s international friendly, as their opponents continue preparations under strict media control in Turkey.

The Iranian national team held a closed training session on Wednesday in Belek, near Antalya, limiting media access as they intensify preparations for upcoming friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica.

Officials within the Iranian camp have deliberately reduced public exposure, citing the need to avoid distractions amid heightened political tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The friendly against the Super Eagles is expected to be a key test for Iran ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Originally scheduled to take place in Jordan, the matches were relocated to Turkey due to the security situation in the Middle East.

Despite the restricted media access, reports from the training ground indicate a relaxed atmosphere among the Iranian players, who were seen engaging in light moments during the session.

Off-Field Issues in Iranian Camp

Iran’s preparations have not been without controversy. Forward Mehdi Taremi has drawn attention following a recent club incident involving an Israeli opponent, while experienced striker Sardar Azmoun has been left out of the squad.

Iranian media reports suggest Azmoun’s omission may be linked to a social media post considered politically sensitive, despite his impressive international record of 57 goals in 91 appearances.

World Cup Concerns

Iran’s football federation has also raised concerns over player safety ahead of the World Cup, with discussions ongoing with FIFA regarding the possibility of relocating their matches from the United States to Mexico.

For Nigeria, the friendly presents an opportunity to test tactical options and assess squad depth against a team expected to face significant global scrutiny in the build-up to the tournament.

Friday’s encounter in Antalya will offer an early glimpse into both sides’ readiness as preparations gather pace for football’s biggest stage.

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By Kunle Solaja.

The race for the final places at the FIFA World Cup 2026 enters its decisive phase this week, with six nations set to compete in the intercontinental play-off tournament beginning on 26 March.

Bolivia, DR Congo, Jamaica, Iraq, New Caledonia and Suriname will battle for just two remaining tickets to the expanded 48-team global finals, bringing years of qualification campaigns down to a handful of decisive matches.

The tournament will be staged in Mexico, with matches played at Guadalajara and Monterrey, where semi-finals will take place on 26 March before the finals on 31 March.

Pathway One: DR Congo Await Opponent

In Guadalajara, New Caledonia face Jamaica in the opening semi-final, with the winner advancing to meet DR Congo in the decisive clash.

For DR Congo, this represents a chance to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire. Their journey to this stage has been remarkable, having eliminated continental heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria in African qualifying.

Jamaica, seeking a first World Cup appearance since France 1998, will rely on the attacking threat of players such as Leon Bailey, while New Caledonia are chasing a historic debut on the global stage.

The winner of this pathway will advance to a challenging group featuring Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan at the World Cup.

Pathway Two: Bolivia, Iraq Eye Return

In Monterrey, Bolivia take on Suriname in the second semi-final, with Iraq awaiting the winner in the final.

Bolivia, who last appeared at the World Cup in 1994, are aiming for a return after an encouraging qualifying campaign that included a notable victory over Brazil.

Suriname, meanwhile, are targeting a historic first qualification, having already reached unprecedented heights by making the play-off tournament.

Iraq, bidding for their first World Cup appearance since 1986, progressed dramatically through Asian qualifying and will be confident of finishing the job in Mexico.

The successful team from this pathway will move into a formidable group alongside France, Norway and Senegal.

Dreams on the Line

For all six teams, the play-off tournament represents a final opportunity to turn years of effort into World Cup qualification.

While nations such as DR Congo, Iraq and Bolivia seek long-awaited returns, New Caledonia and Suriname are chasing history with potential maiden appearances.

With only two places available, the margin for error is nonexistent, making the Mexico showdowns a high-stakes climax to the global qualifying campaign.

By the end of March, two nations will celebrate entry onto football’s biggest stage, while four others will see their World Cup dreams come to an end.

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Italy’s failure to develop and trust young players lies at the heart of a 20-year decline, 2006 World Cup winners Massimo ​Oddo and Marco Amelia told Reuters, as the Azzurri head into another playoff at risk of missing a third successive finals.

After ‌lifting the trophy 20 years ago, Italy crashed out at the group stage in the next two editions, winning just one game. They have since missed the last two World Cups, losing out in the playoffs.

Former goalkeeper Amelia says those results were not isolated setbacks.

“The victory in 2006 covered and hid the limits that the national system already had in terms ​of structures and preparation,” Amelia said.

“We didn’t put enough faith in promising young players, and clubs invested too little in long-term planning.

“In Serie A ​there’s a very high percentage of foreign players. The only way to change this is for clubs to invest more ⁠in young Italians, knowing that some of those investments might fail.”

According to former defender Oddo, Italian football has been left behind.

“Other leagues have overtaken Serie ​A, due to economic and infrastructural factors,” Oddo said

“Before, Italian players never went abroad. Now they do, and mediocre players arrive in Italy, taking space away from ​Italians. Italian football should modernise the youth sector, because the talent exists, but is not well supported.”

Oddo, now coach of AC Milan’s reserve team, believes a complete mentality shift is needed.

“Much more should be invested in those who are called coaches and turn them into educators,” he said.

“You have to focus a lot on the individual growth of the boys, not ​so much on results. Today, the coach is questioned even in the youth sector. Everyone expects results, and if results don’t come, the coach is ​replaced.

“Where this kind of problem exists, the coach ends up playing the boy who is perhaps readier, but who has less long-term potential.”

A FALSE DAWN

Italy’s Euro 2020 triumph briefly masked ‌deeper problems.

“At ⁠both the World Cup and Euros we won, Italy did what it had to do, relying on a strong defensive unit,” Oddo said.

“(Alessandro) Nesta, (Marco) Materazzi, (Gianluca) Zambrotta in 2006, (Giorgio) Chiellini and (Leonardo) Bonucci at the Euros.

“And the great defenders we once had – I believe Chiellini was the last truly great Italian defender – no longer exist.”

Amelia agreed that the Euros were not a turning point, pointing to the current qualifying campaign that included two heavy defeats by Norway and left Italy as group ​runners-up.

“Italy won the Euros playing a more ​modern football, but also relying ⁠on what has always been our DNA – the ability to defend well,” he said.

“In qualifying we conceded too much. Now we need to think about results, and results come from teams that know how to defend well and make the ​most of their attacking qualities.”

Italy’s only previous failure to reach a World Cup before this barren spell came in ​1958, when they finished ⁠behind Northern Ireland in their qualifying group.

On Thursday they face the same opponent in a playoff semi-final in Bergamo, with the winners travelling to meet Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina for a place at the finals.

“Failing to qualify for the World Cup would be an enormous blow, above all on an economic level,” Oddo said.

“Also for everything ⁠around football, ​the media, the fans. This lack of results at international level dents the enthusiasm of ​the fans, which is fading, that’s the harsh reality.”

Amelia believes the outcome of the playoff should not distract from the wider issues.

“Not qualifying wouldn’t be a disaster,” he said.

“It would simply be a ​reality that needs to be analysed properly, because even if we do qualify, the problems of Italian football remain the same.”

-Reuters

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