Iran World Cup visa row escalates as US entry restrictions and visa denials disrupt preparations ahead of the 2026 tournament

Iran’s national football team and its governing officials are facing a major disruption to their World Cup preparations after a diplomatic visa row with the United States forced changes to their base and left several key personnel unable to obtain entry permits ahead of the tournament.

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Iran hit by World Cup visa controversy has intensified after the squad relocated to Tijuana, Mexico, abandoning plans to remain in Tucson, Arizona, amid uncertainty over US travel conditions and rising political tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, confirmed that the team had been informed of strict entry conditions, stating that players would only be permitted to enter the United States on match days and must leave the country immediately afterwards.

“We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” Pasandideh said, highlighting the severity of the restrictions placed on the team’s movements during the tournament.

United States officials, however, maintained that all players and essential support staff had been granted visas ahead of Iran’s opening Group G fixture against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 16 June, insisting that entry procedures were consistent with security requirements.

Officials further stated that Iran would not be allowed to misuse the system, alleging concerns over potential abuse of travel permissions under the guise of sporting participation.

Iranian authorities have strongly rejected the claims, with the country’s embassy in Turkey accusing Washington of “politically biased interference in sport” and confirming that a significant number of managerial and technical staff had been denied visas.

According to Iranian state-linked reports, around 15 officials have been affected, including senior figures within the national football federation, such as its president, deputy and media director.

The escalating dispute has prompted Iran to call on FIFA to intervene, arguing that the restrictions undermine the neutrality and integrity of international football competitions.

The Iran World Cup visa row has overshadowed what was expected to be a focused build-up to the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico starting on 11 June.

Despite the off-field uncertainty, Iran secured qualification in March 2025 after finishing top of their qualifying group and are scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles before further Group G matches against Belgium in California and Egypt in Seattle.

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Football analysts say the ongoing diplomatic tension could pose logistical and psychological challenges for the squad as it attempts to maintain focus on on-field performance amid growing off-field uncertainty.