Iran Receives U.S. Visas for 2026 World Cup

Members of Iran's national football team have received their visas to compete in the 2026 World Cup in the United States. The team will enter the U.S. from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of their first two matches scheduled near Los Angeles this month. The team's participation in the tournament had been complicated by geopolitical tensions, including Iran's conflicts with Israel and the U.S. Previously, visa processing issues had caused Iran to relocate its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana.

An American official stated that all Iranian team members received visa approval and were in the process of obtaining them. A second official confirmed that visas had been issued for players, coaches, trainers, and some support staff. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss visa matters publicly. It remains unclear when the team's passports would be returned to allow travel, but one official suggested it could be as early as Friday or Saturday.

The team has been preparing for the World Cup at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, before heading to Tijuana. The Iranian Football Federation confirmed they have already received visas from the Mexican Embassy in Ankara. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, credited the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for its work in processing the visas. "Sports transcends borders, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world," Barrack wrote on social media.

Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later in Inglewood, California. They will then travel to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26. A potential match between Iran and the United States in the round of 16 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, could occur if both teams finish second in their respective groups.

“

Sports transcends borders, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world.