Iran's World Cup team arrives in Mexico amid security and political tensions

Iran's national football team has arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, to establish their base camp for the 2026 World Cup, a tournament complicated by the ongoing conflict with the United States. The team's arrival was met with a significant security presence, including patrols by the Mexican National Guard at the airport, where a small group of Iranian flag-waving fans awaited them.

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei thanked Mexico and FIFA for facilitating their arrival but voiced frustration over the delay, stating it should have occurred a week earlier to allow for acclimatization to the 12-hour time difference. He emphasized that ethical and human considerations should precede technical matters in such tournaments, suggesting these were not met in their case.

Political tensions are heightened around Iran's participation, as they are the first participating nation in the tournament to be at war with a host country. Visa issues continue to plague the delegation, with several staff members, including Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj, denied entry due to his past service in the Revolutionary Guards, an organization designated as terrorist by Washington. While players have received visas, the situation for the technical staff remains uncertain.

Further complicating matters, the Iranian ambassador in Mexico stated that the team would only be allowed to enter and exit the United States on the same day as their matches. This contradicts earlier statements from the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) spokesperson regarding arrival times. The team captain, Ehsan Hajsafi, also expressed his complaints to FIFA about the delay in obtaining U.S. visas, referencing the "two wars imposed on our country" in the past year. Despite these challenges, the team remains confident, with player Alireza Jahanbakhsh stating they are preparing diligently for their opening match against New Zealand.