The Iranian football team has received visas to enter the United States for the upcoming World Cup,U.S. officials confirmed . This approval comes just days before their opening match against New Zealand,scheduled for June 15 in Los Angeles.
Officials stated that all necessary visas for the Iranian players and essential support staff have been issued. However, they emphasized that the U.S. would not permit any misuse of the visa process, particularly to prevent individuals linked to terrorism from entering the country under false pretenses.
While the Iranian football federation has yet to comment publicly on the visa approvals, the situation remains complex. Reports from Fars news agency indicated that some members of the team’s technical and administrative staff had not received their visas as of Friday. This has raised concerns within federation, especially since Iran recently relocated its training base from Tucson,Arizona, to Mexico,a move attributed to ongoing visa issues.
The FIFA World Cup 2026,which begins on June 11, will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada,and Mexico. This tournament marks a historic moment as it will be the first time host nation allows a team from a country it is in conflict with to participate. The U.S. Secretary of State,Marco Rubio, previously stated that individuals associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards,a significant faction of Iran's military,would not be permitted in the Iranian delegation.
Some players on the Iranian squad have completed mandatory military service with this group, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. As the tournament approaches,the Iranian football federation faces challenges in ensuring that all team members can participate fully in the event.
