The Iranian national team has obtained the necessary visas to play its World Cup matches in the United States. However, its stay in the US is expected to be strictly limited. Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, stated this weekend that the team had been informed that it must enter the United States on the day of its matches and leave the same evening.
In practical terms, Iran would not be based in the United States during the group stage. The team is scheduled to establish its base camp in Tijuana, a Mexican city on the border, and then travel to the United States only to play. However, Iran's three first-round matches are scheduled to take place on American soil: against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, against Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, and then against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
Tijuana, fallback camp
Tijuana was not the initial plan. Iran was originally slated to set up its base in Tucson, Arizona. Visa uncertainties and the political climate forced the delegation to relocate its camp to Mexico. The Iranian players left Turkey on Saturday, after a training camp in Antalya, to join their base for the tournament. This arrangement requires significant logistical planning. For the first two matches, Iran will have to travel between Tijuana and Los Angeles. For the third match, the trip to Seattle will be considerably longer. This constraint is all the more significant given that teams competing in a World Cup typically base themselves near their match venues to manage training, recovery, medical care, press, and pre-match meetings.
A depleted delegation
The issue doesn't just concern the players. Several members of the administrative and technical staff have also been denied visas, according to Iranian authorities. The Iranian ambassador to Mexico mentioned fifteen people affected. Among the names cited are officials from the Iranian Football Federation, including its president, Mehdi Taj. The Iranian federation believes these refusals affect individuals essential to the team's normal operations. Its spokesperson specifically raised the question of the manager's and press officer's attendance at official pre-match meetings. A letter has been sent to FIFA requesting intervention.
Washington is taking strict screening measures
On the American side, the stated position is clear: the visas deemed necessary for Iran's participation in the tournament have been issued to the players and essential support staff. However, US authorities say they refuse to allow any use of the visa system by individuals considered to be of high security risk. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had already indicated that the United States would not allow anyone linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to join the Iranian delegation. Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, was denied entry during the tournament draw in Washington in December.
A World Cup under diplomatic constraints
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, places Iran in an exceptional situation. Having qualified for the competition, the Iranian national team must play its entire group stage in the United States, amidst heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The tournament is scheduled to kick off on June 11. For Iran, the competition will begin four days later in Los Angeles against New Zealand. Barring any developments, the team will enter the World Cup with a training camp in Mexico, mandatory travel to and from stadiums in the United States, and some of its staff still stranded due to visa issues.
