Iran football team heads to Mexico amid U.S. visa dispute

Iran's national football team has embarked on its journey to Mexico for World Cup preparations, facing lingering uncertainty over U.S. visas for some of its staff. The team departed from Turkey on Saturday, heading to their training base, even as reports suggest that key personnel, including the general secretary and vice president of the Iranian Football Federation, have not yet secured entry into the United States.

The ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S. has complicated the team's World Cup participation. Visa processing difficulties had already prompted Iran to relocate its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. The Iranian federation has publicly accused the United States of "vindictive conduct" for allegedly denying visas to "key members of the management and administration," stating this prevents the team from competing on equal terms and in a non-discriminatory environment.

While the federation plans to escalate the matter to FIFA, U.S. officials have offered a different perspective. One official confirmed that all player visas had been approved, with a second indicating that visas for players, coaches, trainers, and some support staff were issued. However, a third official suggested that certain individuals associated with the team were denied visas for applying "under false pretenses."

The Iranian delegation had been training in Antalya, Turkey, and confirmed receiving visas from the Mexican Embassy in Ankara. The team is scheduled to play its first two matches in California on June 15 and June 21, before traveling to another location.