LOS ANGELES — Several Iranian football federation officials were denied U.S. visas days before Iran’s opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, prompting complaints from Iranian authorities and adding to tensions surrounding the team’s participation in the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Iran’s players were granted visas and have continued preparations for the competition, but a number of federation executives, administrative personnel and support staff were unable to secure entry permits, according to Iranian officials and multiple media reports published this week. The visa dispute emerged less than two weeks before Iran’s first Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
The Iranian Football Federation said the restrictions affected members of its delegation whose presence was considered important for tournament operations. Iranian officials described the decision as discriminatory and said they intended to raise the issue with FIFA. According to Iranian media reports, several senior federation figures remained without visas as of this week.
Iran defender Ehsan Hajsafi called for intervention from football authorities. “From here, I would like to ask FIFA to address this issue so that, God willing, the situation can be resolved in the coming days,” he said after the team arrived in Mexico.
U.S. officials said visas had been issued to the players and essential personnel required for competition. A White House official told Reuters last week that Iran’s squad had received entry clearance ahead of the tournament. U.S. authorities have not publicly detailed individual visa decisions, citing longstanding policies regarding visa adjudications.
The visa issue comes amid strained relations between Washington and Tehran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously said individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would not be permitted to enter the United States, raising concerns about potential restrictions affecting members of Iran’s delegation.
As a result of the uncertainty, Iran moved its World Cup base camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, where the team has been training ahead of the tournament. Team officials said the relocation was partly driven by concerns over visa processing and travel arrangements.
FIFA had not publicly commented on the visa dispute as of Friday. Iran’s national team continued preparations in Mexico and was scheduled to travel to Los Angeles for its opening match, while the status of several federation officials remained unresolved.
