Last-minute visas and moving training camp: Iran's road to the World Cup

Iran's ambassador to Mexico has voiced concern regarding the reported denial of United States visas to Iran's World Cup delegation. The ambassador expressed this concern in Mexico, where the World Cup delegation is reportedly headed. The article does not specify when this reported visa denial occurred or the exact composition of the delegation. The reason for the reported visa denial is also not provided in the article.

Iran's national football team is facing a visa dispute with the United States as they prepare to travel to Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. While the Iranian players received their visas for the tournament, which is co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, Iran's embassy in Turkey stated that a "large" number of key support staff, including federation officials, were denied visas. The Iranian embassy accused the US of "deliberate and discriminatory treatment" and stated that staff without visas would travel to Mexico while efforts to obtain them continue. The dispute erupted just days before the tournament's June 11 start.

US officials have confirmed that Iran's national football team has been granted visas to enter the United States for the upcoming World Cup. This approval comes just ten days before the team's opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15th. The visas cover athletes and necessary support staff. Officials stated that the US would not permit the Iranian team to exploit the visa system for illicit purposes. Iran's soccer federation president had previously cited visa issues as the reason for relocating the team's training base from Arizona to Mexico. The World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 11th and will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.

Iran's national football team has been granted visas to enter the United States for the World Cup, according to a White House official. This comes just ten days before their opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. The US Ambassador to Turkiye confirmed the visas, praising the US Embassy in Ankara for their work. However, reports indicate that visas for some members of the Iran team's technical and administrative staff have not yet been issued. The World Cup is described as a geopolitical contest between the two nations, with this being the first instance of a host nation receiving a country it is at war with.

Iran's national football team has submitted their passports to the United States embassy in Ankara, Turkey, to secure visas for the 2026 World Cup. According to the head of Iran's football federation, Mehdi Taj, this action is in line with instructions from FIFA. The team is scheduled to travel from Turkey to Spain on Saturday, and then to their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, which has already issued visas. Taj expressed optimism that all visas would be granted, but also indicated that Iran had informed FIFA of potential alternative decisions if visas were not issued. The team's World Cup base was relocated from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico.