Iran Vs Gambia Begins 0-0 at Mardan Sports Complex
Iran vs Gambia started 0-0 at the Mardan Sports Complex in Aksu, Antalya, Turkey, with both sides set up for a FIFA international friendly on 05/29/2026. The match sat in the last FIFA international break before the World Cup, and viewers in the United States had no broadcast option to watch it live.
Mardan Sports Complex in Aksu
The setting fit the occasion. The Mardan Sports Complex opened in 2008, holds over seven thousand spectators and serves as Antalyaspor’s home stadium, while UEFA Euro U-17 matches were played there in 2008 as well.
Iran went with a 4-3-3 shape: Hosseini, Kanaani, Khalizadeh, Nemati, Mohammadi, Esmailfar, Razzaghinia, Ghoddos, Ghayedi, Mohebi and Taremi. Gambia answered with a 3-4-3 lineup of Gaye, O. Colley, Sanyang, Sohna, Bajo, Adams, M. Drammeh, Bojang, S. Drammeh, Sidibeh and E. Colley.
Hosseini Stops Sidibeh
Gambia created the first real chance when Drammeh took a pass on the right, drove into the area and hit a hard shot that Iran’s defense cleared. Sidibeh then got to Colley’s pass in the box and fired low, only for Hosseini to palm it away on the ground so the back line could clean up the danger.
Iran also forced a corner through high pressure, and Gambia earned one on the right, but both defenses handled the restart. Those moments kept the match level and left the game hanging on the first mistake, with neither side turning early pressure into a goal.
U.S. Broadcast Gap
For viewers in the United States, the main practical issue was simple: the match would not be broadcast there, and online follow was the only option listed. That left the live update feed as the way to track every chance, including the saves, clearances and corners that defined the opening phase.
Iran had the cleaner defensive answer on the first dangerous shot, but Gambia were the sharper team at the start of the action. With both teams already in motion and the scoreboard still blank, the opening spelled out a game that could be decided by one finish or one more stop from Hosseini.
