Iran accuses the US of blocking visas for key teams days before the World Cup kicks off
Iran has accused the United States of denying visas to several key members of its World Cup delegation less than two weeks before its opening match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The dispute has sparked fresh controversy surrounding the tournament, with Iranian officials saying the restrictions are preventing the team from operating under normal conditions.
The latest row comes just days after Iranian players were finally cleared to enter the United States after weeks of uncertainty over their participation in the tournament.
Just 10 days before the start of the World Cup, The Iranian national team has received permission to travel to the United States after a tense visa situation threatened to disrupt their preparations. The team subsequently changed its training plans and set up camps in Antalya, Turkey, and Tijuana, Mexico, before traveling to California for the tournament.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026: FULL REPORT
However, before Iran could fully switch into World Cup mode, another controversy arose.
Iran’s football federation and diplomatic officials now say several team members, administrators and executives remain without visas despite the tournament starting next week.
Among those reportedly still awaiting clearance are Iran Football Federation Secretary General Hedayat Mombeini and Vice President Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, who were named among 14 officials and support staff members who have yet to receive visas, according to Iranian state television.
The federation has accused the United States of discriminatory treatment and says it intends to resolve the matter through FIFA.
WHY ARE IRAN WORLD CUP STAFF TARGETING VISAS FOR US?
The controversy erupted after the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, praised embassy officials in Ankara for arranging visas for the Iranian national team and facilitating their trip to the World Cup.
Barrack said embassy staff were working to ensure players and officials could attend the tournament, and expressed hope to welcome both the team and Iranian supporters to the United States.
The Iranian embassy in Ankara reacted sharply to these claims.
In a statement posted on social media, the embassy accused the United States of trying to “whitewash” events that allegedly violated FIFA regulations and host country obligations.
According to Iranian officials, visas have been denied to several management members, executives, technical advisors and administrative staff considered essential to the functioning of the national team.
The Iran Football Federation described the move as “vindictive behavior” and claimed the decision denied the team a level playing field ahead of the tournament.
The Iranian authorities further argued that political disputes could interfere with sport and insisted that FIFA should intervene to ensure access to all accredited members of the participating delegations.
The United States has not publicly commented on the specific allegations.
However, according to reports, US officials claimed that all players had received visas and that coaches, trainers and some support staff had also been approved. One official reportedly suggested that some of the rejected applications may have involved individuals seeking visas under “false pretenses”.
The dispute comes against a backdrop of wider tensions between Iran and the United States, with the national team’s preparations already affected by logistical complications related to travel and training preparations.
Neither FIFA nor US authorities have issued an official public response regarding the status of the remaining visa applications.
WHO WILL PLAY IRAN AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP?
Despite the lingering uncertainty, Iran are expected to continue preparations from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, before heading to the United States for matches.
The Asian side opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Inglewood, California on 15 June.
Iran will then stay in California to face Belgium on June 21 before traveling to Seattle for the final Group G match against Egypt on June 26.
The team heads into the tournament after a mixed run of warm-up results. Iran recently beat Mali 2-0 and also recorded wins over Costa Rica and The Gambia, although they suffered defeat against Nigeria in the warm-up.
With the World Cup just days away, Iran will be hoping that the remaining visa issues are resolved quickly so that the focus can finally return to football rather than off-field complications.
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
June 7, 2026 12:41 PM IST