Iran's World Cup campaign is clouded by a visa dispute with the US.

After being tossed around due to attacks from the US and Israel, the Iranian squad has finally departed for the 2026 World Cup. This Asian representative arrived in Mexico on Sunday (7/6/2026), amidst the looming shadows of escalating diplomatic disputes between Tehran and Washington, following the United States' refusal to issue visas for several support staff of the team.

The dispute arose just a few days before the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday (11/6/2026), which is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Iranian squad departed from Turkey, where they had been undergoing training, on Saturday heading to Mexico.

The Iranian national team is heading to Tijuana, a border city in the northwest of Mexico that will serve as their base during the World Cup. Iran is scheduled to play three of their group matches in the U.S., making this the first World Cup to feature a host nation facing a team from a country they have attacked.

Iran initially chose a base in Tucson, Arizona, USA. However, following the US-Israel attack on Iran, they relocated their base to Tijuana at the end of May. Iran is in Group G and will face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

The team coached by Amir Ghalenoei spent nearly three weeks at a training camp in Antalya, utilizing their time in Turkey to apply for travel visas to Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The players were reported to have obtained their US visas ahead of their departure, according to the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, in a social media post.

However, the Iranian embassy in Turkey subsequently issued a strong response. They revealed that the supporting staff had their visas denied. The affected number is 15, consisting of administrative and management staff, said an Iranian diplomat.

"You deliberately escalated discriminatory treatment against the Iranian national team to the highest level," wrote the Iranian embassy on Saturday on X, while urging FIFA to hold the United States accountable for violations of the rules.

Tensions escalated after the Iranian ambassador to Mexico stated that the Iranian national team was informed that according to the visa regulations, the team must enter and exit the United States on the same day as their match.

"We can enter in the morning and must leave on the same day," said Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, to reporters.

This contradicts what was previously stated by the Iranian team spokesman, Amir Mahdi Alavi.

"The visas issued for the national team are multiple-entry visas, and the national team will arrive at the match location one day before the first match and, for the subsequent matches, two days before each respective match," said Alavi.

FIFA regulations for the World Cup stipulate that team coaches must hold a press conference the night before the match at the venue where the game will be played.

The Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) described the United States' decision regarding the visa for the Iranian national team as the worst form of political interference in sports. FFIRI Chairman Mehdi Taj was reported to be among those whose visas were denied.

A U.S. official confirmed that the visas required for Iran to participate in the World Cup, including for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued. Without directly addressing the issue of those whose visas were denied, the official stated that they do not want the Iranian team to smuggle unwanted individuals into the U.S.

In April, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that they do not have issues with Iranian players. However, Rubio mentioned that they will not allow parties associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, a group that is on the U.S. terrorist list.

Not only the Iranian national team, but the visa turmoil also affected the Iraqi national team. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that the Iraqi squad had landed in Chicago, but two of its members underwent additional screening.

"After the inspection, one person was allowed entry into the United States. The second person, a photographer and not a player, was deemed ineligible and denied entry," said CBP in a statement.

The Middle East was in turmoil when the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28, 2026. The ceasefire on April 8, which halted most of the attacks, continues to face challenges due to several recent assaults.

For the people of Iran, this World Cup is vastly different from previous editions. The impact of war has dampened the enthusiasm of the citizens in welcoming this grand event, even though their national team is participating.

"This World Cup is different, I don't see the same enthusiasm as in previous editions," said Houman, a Tehran resident.

Shervin, a photographer from Tehran, also finds it difficult to feel enthusiastic about football. "In Iran, no one cares about football right now, just as it seems that no one cares about the hardships and living conditions of the Iranian people. That makes me angry," he said. (AFP)