Iran's players arrived at Antalya airport before departing to Tijuana, Mexico for their World Cup camp, amid a diplomatic war of words over the US visa status for several members of the 2026 World Cup delegation. The team has trained and played closed-door matches in Antalya, Turkey, for the past three weeks while diplomats worked to secure visas for entry to the United States, where all three group-stage games will be played.
Visas Approved for Players but Not All Staff
Visas were approved on June 5 for Iran's players and some staff, but Iranian state media and diplomats reported that several support staff were left out, including Iranian football federation chief Mehdi Taj. A US state department official stated that 'the visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup, including for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued,' adding that they would not allow the Iranian team to 'abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses.'
Iranian Embassy Responds
The Iranian embassy in Turkey responded forcefully to a tweet from US ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, claiming that visas were denied to a 'large portion of the managerial and executive staff, technical advisers, and others who are an integral part of any national football team.' The embassy accused the US of 'deliberate and discriminatory treatment' and said the US government was 'depriving Iran's national team of its right to play in the World Cup under normal conditions.'
Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that those without visas included three FFIRI officials: executive director Mehdi Kharati, secretary general Hedayat Mombini, and media director Mohsen Motamedkia. Staff members without visas will travel to Mexico with the team while efforts to obtain visas continue.
FFIRI Condemns US Actions
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) said the behavior of co-hosts the US 'contradicts international sports laws' and will take the matter up with FIFA. In a statement reported by Iran's state media, the FFIRI said: 'The US government, continuing its hostile actions against the national team, made a non-sporting and completely political decision to refuse visas for key managerial and administrative members of the Iranian national football team.' The federation added that FIFA has the duty to follow up and finalise visas for the staff.
Logistical Uncertainties
There remains significant uncertainty about how the Iranian national team will move through the tournament. Iran originally planned to set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona, but switched to Tijuana, Mexico in May due to immigration status uncertainty. Iran is scheduled to play all matches in the United States: group-stage games in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, and in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.
Iran's ambassador to Mexico said the squad was notified that under visa conditions, the team must enter and leave US soil on the same day as matches. 'We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,' Abolfazl Pasandideh told reporters. This contradicted the team's spokesman Amir Mahdi Alavi, who told state TV that issued visas are multiple-entry, allowing arrival one day before the first game and two days prior to subsequent matches.
FIFA rules for World Cups require a team's coach to give a press conference on the eve of the match at the venue. FIFA has been approached for comment.
