Visa Dispute Divides Iran’s World Cup Delegation Ahead of Tournament in United States

A diplomatic dispute has emerged over the U.S. visa status of several members of Iran’s 2026 World Cup delegation as the team prepares to begin its training camp in Mexico.

Over the past three weeks, Iran has conducted closed-door training sessions and friendly matches in Antalya, Turkey, while diplomatic efforts aimed to secure U.S. entry visas for the delegation. On June 5, visas were granted to the players and some staff, but Iranian state media and diplomatic sources reported that a number of support personnel—including Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) chief Mehdi Taj—were denied entry permissions.

In response, a U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed to multiple outlets that all required visas for Iran’s World Cup participation, including those for athletes and essential support staff, have been issued. The official added, “We will not permit the Iranian team to exploit this process to introduce terrorists into the United States under false pretenses.”

Earlier that day, the Iranian Embassy in Ankara issued a strong rebuttal to U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack’s tweet praising the issuance of visas and emphasizing that “sport transcends borders.” The embassy’s statement claimed that a substantial segment of the team’s managerial, executive, and technical staff had been excluded from the visa approvals.

“You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level,” the embassy wrote. “The U.S. government is effectively depriving Iran’s national team of its right to compete in the World Cup under normal circumstances, free from undue pressure and stress.”

According to Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim, three FFIRI officials—executive director Mehdi Kharati, secretary general Hedayat Mombini, and media director Mohsen Motamedkia—did not receive visas. These individuals will accompany the squad to Mexico while visa negotiations remain ongoing.

The FFIRI condemned the U.S. action as contradictory to international sports statutes and indicated it will raise the matter with FIFA. “The U.S. government, continuing its hostile conduct toward the national team, has made a non-sporting and purely political decision to deny visas to key managerial and administrative personnel,” the federation’s statement, distributed by Iranian state media, read.

It added, “This issue will definitely be pursued by the Football Federation through FIFA. As the governing body, FIFA has the responsibility to ensure visas for the managerial, executive, technical, and support staff of the Iranian national team who are currently in camp and urgently needed.”

Logistical concerns now surround Iran’s ability to navigate the tournament. Originally slated to base in Tucson, Arizona, the team shifted its training site to Tijuana, Mexico in May due to uncertainty over immigration clearance.

All of Iran’s group-stage matches are slated to be played in the United States—against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, clarified that under the terms of their visas, the team must enter and exit the U.S. on the same day as each match. “We can enter in the morning and must leave the same day,” he told reporters.

This account conflicts with earlier remarks from team spokesman Amir Mahdi Alavi, who told Iranian state television that the issued visas are multiple-entry, allowing the team to arrive one day before the opening match and two days prior to each subsequent game.

FIFA regulations require each team’s coach to hold a pre-match press conference at the venue the day before the fixture. FIFA has been approached for comment by The Guardian.

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