15 Iranian officials denied visas for 2026 World Cup

Iranian state television has reported that the United States denied visas to 15 members of Iran’s delegation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, escalating tensions just days before the team’s opening match.

While visas for the 26-man playing squad were approved late on 5 June, allowing them to travel from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, for matches in the United States, a significant number of support staff, technical officials, and federation executives were refused entry.

Iranian officials, including federation sources, have described the decision as politically motivated and discriminatory. They highlighted that key figures such as federation president Mehdi Taj, who has reported past links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), were among those affected. The US has cited national security concerns and IRGC affiliations as reasons for the refusals.

The development comes after Iran relocated its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in Mexico with FIFA’s approval. The move facilitates shorter border crossings for match days while minimising time spent in the US amid visa uncertainties. Iran’s squad is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt.

A White House official confirmed that player visas were processed successfully, emphasising that the focus remains on ensuring athletes can compete while scrutinising accompanying officials. Iran has urged FIFA to intervene, arguing that all teams should receive equal treatment for full delegations.

This is not the first visa dispute. Similar issues arose ahead of the tournament draw in late 2025, when Iran boycotted parts of the event in Washington due to restricted access for officials.

The Iranian football federation has expressed confidence that the players will participate fully, but the partial denials have sparked criticism from Iranian media and diplomats, who called the US actions an escalation of “deliberate and discriminatory treatment”.

FIFA has not issued an immediate comment but has previously stated that all qualified teams must be able to compete under fair conditions.