RismadarVoice Reporters, June 7, 2026
Iran’s men’s national football team is set to travel to Mexico ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dispute erupted over the United States’ refusal to issue visas to several members of the squad’s support and management staff.
The controversy comes days before the tournament kicks off on June 11, with Iran accusing the United States of discriminatory treatment after what it described as widespread visa denials affecting key personnel.
Iranian officials said a “large number” of essential staff, including technical advisers and administrative officials, were not granted entry permits, despite the players themselves receiving visas late on Friday.
The Iranian embassy in Turkey criticised Washington’s handling of the situation, alleging that the visa restrictions went beyond routine processing delays and amounted to politically motivated obstruction.
“You have escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team,” the embassy said in a statement posted on social media, insisting that the affected personnel are essential to the team’s participation in the tournament.
Iranian media reported that among those denied visas were senior football federation officials, including its president Mehdi Taj, secretary-general Hedayat Mombini, and media director Mohsen Motamedkia.
The Iranian Football Federation said it plans to raise the issue with FIFA, arguing that the decision violates international sporting principles and unfairly interferes with a national team’s preparations for a global competition.
In its statement, the federation described the situation as a “non-sporting and political decision,” calling on FIFA to intervene and ensure full access for all necessary team staff.
The United States has not publicly responded in detail to the allegations, while FIFA has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
Despite the dispute, Iran’s squad is continuing its preparations. The team has been training in Antalya since mid-May and is expected to depart for Mexico, where it will be based during the tournament.
Officials confirmed that the team will travel via a stopover in Spain before arriving in Mexico, where it will be stationed in Tijuana throughout the competition.
Although Iran originally planned to base its camp in the United States, security and diplomatic tensions linked to ongoing regional conflicts prompted a relocation to Mexico.
Iran, competing in Group G, is scheduled to face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in matches to be played in US host cities including Los Angeles and Seattle.
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, begins on June 11, with geopolitical tensions adding an unusual backdrop to football’s biggest international tournament.
