Iran Squad Faces Visa Crisis Ahead of 2026 World Cup in US
The Iranian national football team's delegation is facing a crisis in obtaining the necessary visas to enter the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, less than a month before the anticipated start of the tournament. The national team has departed for Turkey for a final training camp, while diplomatic and sporting efforts continue to secure travel for the entire delegation to play their group stage matches hosted on American soil.
Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, manager of the Iranian national team, expressed optimism about resolving this administrative dilemma in the coming days. Nabi stated, “According to our projections and the correspondence exchanged with FIFA, this matter should be settled within the next two weeks.” These statements coincide with the players heading to their Turkey camp in preparation for their opening tournament match on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, pointed to security restrictions that could prevent some members of the delegation from entering the country. Rubio clarified, “There will be no problem in allowing the entry of Iranian national team players, but access to the country will not be permitted for the technical staff of the federation who maintain ties with the Revolutionary Guard.” This stance presents challenges for the team's coaching staff, who aim to compete in Group G, which also includes Belgium and Egypt.
In a concerted effort to overcome these obstacles, Mehdi Taj, President of the Iranian Football Federation, met with FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in Istanbul, Turkey, to discuss the visa crisis. All involved parties hope to reach a settlement that ensures the regular participation of the Iranian delegation before the World Cup begins on June 11, thereby guaranteeing that the sporting competitions proceed free from political and logistical complexities that could affect the national team’s schedule.
