Iran takes World Cup visa battle with US to FIFA

Iran’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have taken a diplomatic turn after the country’s football federation revealed it is relying on FIFA to help secure special travel arrangements for the national team ahead of matches in the United States.

Federation president Mehdi Taj confirmed on Thursday that Iran expects football’s governing body to facilitate multiple-entry US visas for players and staff, allowing the squad to move freely between Mexico and the United States during the tournament.

According to Taj, the Iranian team will now establish its World Cup base in Tijuana, Mexico, instead of Tucson, Arizona, as originally planned. The switch is understood to be linked to concerns surrounding travel logistics and visa restrictions.

“FIFA is expected to provide a multiple-entry visa arrangement so the team can travel in and out of the United States,” Taj said in comments carried by Iranian media.

Iran, one of Asia’s strongest qualifiers, are scheduled to play all three Group G matches on American soil despite relocating their operational base to neighbouring Mexico, which is co-hosting the tournament alongside the US and Canada.

The team will begin its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June before taking on Belgium in the same city. Their final group-stage fixture against Egypt is due to be played in Seattle.

Taj explained that shifting camp to Mexico would simplify travel and allow the squad to use direct Iran Air flights without the complications that could arise from extended stays in the United States.

The uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation had lingered for months amid wider geopolitical tensions in the region following the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran earlier this year.

Away from logistical concerns, questions also remain over the international future of star striker Sardar Azmoun. Taj admitted he was still unclear about the player’s situation after the forward was left out of the manager’s preliminary squad plans.

Azmoun, Iran’s second-highest goalscorer with 57 international goals, has remained a controversial figure domestically after publicly supporting anti-government protests in recent years. The striker, who previously featured for Bayer Leverkusen and Roma, also drew criticism in Iranian state media after appearing in a photo with Dubai’s ruler earlier this year.

Pressure for his return has nevertheless intensified, with an Iranian vice president publicly calling for Azmoun to be reinstated to the national team ahead of the World Cup.

In a recent social media statement, Azmoun insisted his loyalty to Iran had never changed, revealing he once turned down a lucrative offer to represent another nation because he considered himself “a son of Iran.”