Iran's World Cup team arrives in Mexico as US visa row rages

Iran's national football team has arrived in Mexico for the 2026 World Cup, but their presence is overshadowed by a diplomatic row with the United States over visa denials for essential support staff. The dispute erupted just days before the tournament's kickoff, which is jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

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You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level.

While the Iranian players received their U.S. visas, the Iranian embassy in Turkey reported that 15 administrative and management staff members were denied entry. The embassy accused the U.S. of "deliberate and discriminatory treatment" and called on FIFA to hold the U.S. accountable for violating its rules. This situation marks a unique tension, as it will be the first World Cup where a host nation is at war with a participating country.

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We can enter in the morning, and we must leave the same day.

Adding to the controversy, Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, stated that the team's visa conditions mandate same-day entry and exit for matches played in the United States. This contradicts earlier statements by the team's spokesman, Amir Mahdi Alavi, who claimed the visas were multiple-entry and allowed for earlier arrival before games. The ambiguity and conflicting information highlight the strained diplomatic relations affecting the team's preparations and participation.

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The visas issued for the national team are multiple-entry visas, and the national team will arrive at the match venue one day before the first game and, for the following games, two days prior to each match.