The U.S. has approved visas for Iran's national football players to enter the country for the 2026 World Cup but has denied visas to nearly the entire coaching staff and senior executives. Iran sharply criticized this move as "political interference in sports" and called on FIFA to take swift action amid heightened security measures due to U.S. fears of terrorists infiltrating.
U.S. authorities confirmed on Friday that visas had been granted to Iran's national football players and "necessary support staff" ahead of Iran's opening match scheduled in Los Angeles on 15 June. However, the U.S. clearly stated that it would not allow the system to be "exploited as a loophole to smuggle terrorists into the country by deception."
Iran's embassy in Turkey responded strongly, accusing the U.S. of "politically biased interference in sports" after "numerous" executive officials, team managers, and coaching staff were denied visas.
Iranian state media reported that 15 executive officials—including the president of the Football Federation of Iran, the vice president, and the director of communications—were barred from traveling to the United States on this occasion.
Currently, Iran’s players have departed their training camp in Turkey and are en route to Mexico, which will serve as their main base during the tournament. They are expected to arrive early this morning (7 June local time) after a flight lasting over 20 hours.
Iran’s ambassador to Mexico revealed that under the U.S.-issued visa conditions, Iran’s national team players must enter and exit the U.S. on the same day as their scheduled matches. The Iranian embassy condemned this requirement as merely a "cosmetic measure" and described it as "a deliberate escalation of discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team." They also called on FIFA to intervene in the matter.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will begin on 11 June. Iran qualified by winning their group in the qualifiers as early as March 2025—prior to the outbreak of war between the two countries. This marks the first time in World Cup history that a host nation must welcome a team from a country with which it is currently at war.
In late May, Iran’s national team had to relocate their training camp from Tucson, Arizona, in the U.S. to Mexico due to the ongoing conflict.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declined to specify the particular restrictions imposed on Iran’s players and delegation while in the U.S. but emphasized its commitment to the safety of American citizens and attendees of the 2026 World Cup. It said it was working closely with all government sectors to secure the 11 host cities, including Los Angeles.
Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio clearly informed Congress that Iran’s football delegation must exclude anyone connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s powerful armed force. However, reports indicate many Iranian national team players have previously completed mandatory military service with this group.
In the group stage, Iran’s schedule includes their opening match in Los Angeles, followed by games against Belgium in California and Egypt in Seattle.
. BBC