Iran footballers issued US visas for World Cup, says White House | World Cup 2026 News
Iranian National Team Granted Visas Ahead of World Cup Match
Iran’s national football team has received their visas to enter the United States, just ten days before their first match at the World Cup. The announcement was made by a White House official as tensions between the two nations continue.
Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, confirmed on Thursday that the squad had yet to obtain their visas. However, the White House later stated that the visas were approved overnight.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkiye, Tom Barrack, praised the team at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for their efforts in processing the visas for the Iranian squad. He shared his remarks via a post on social media platform X, expressing pride in the embassy’s work.
Despite the approval of visas for the players, reports from the semi-official Fars news agency indicate that certain members of the team’s technical and administrative staff have not yet received their visas. The Iranian Football Federation has not publicly commented on the situation.
Fars cited unnamed sources stating that some executive staff members are still awaiting approval, and that the U.S. embassy has not granted these visas.
The ongoing geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran have cast a shadow over the upcoming World Cup, making this edition notable. It marks the first time in the tournament’s history that a host country will welcome a nation it is at odds with.
In response to the visa issues, Iran has relocated its team base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, aiming to minimize their presence in the U.S. The team is scheduled to arrive in Tijuana early Sunday.
Iran’s first match is set for June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles. This will be followed by games against Belgium and Egypt in Seattle.
While the U.S. has not officially stated that it does not want the Iranian team on its territory, Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned in a recent congressional session that individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a prominent segment of Iran’s armed forces, would not be permitted as part of Iran’s World Cup delegation.
Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation and a former Revolutionary Guards commander, was denied entry to the tournament draw in Washington last December.
Ambassador Pasandideh emphasized that Iran’s participation in the World Cup, even in a country often viewed as its adversary, reflects its desire for peace. He noted that progress in peace negotiations between Iran and the U.S. remains slow, with both nations cautiously navigating their ongoing military operations.
