A small crowd gathered at Antalya's international airport on Tuesday as Iran's national football team prepared to embark on its journey to the World Cup.
A symbolic send‑off
Before stepping onto the tarmac, several players gathered around a copy of the Quran, each pressing their lips to its pages in a quiet moment of devotion.
The gesture, captured by photographers, underscored the team's reliance on faith as they headed into a high‑stakes tournament.
Fans and farewells
Supporters in the terminal posed for group photos with the squad, waving flags and chanting slogans that blended Turkish and Persian pride.
A banner displayed in Turkish read, "The peoples of Turkey and Iran are marching together toward victory," a sentiment that resonated with onlookers.
From Antalya, the team will fly to Tijuana, Mexico, where they will join other nations competing in the group stage of the championship.
The move marks a rare convergence of Middle Eastern and North American football cultures, and the players seem eager to translate that goodwill into performance on the pitch.