Iran World Cup squad heads to Mexico as US visa row erupts

Iran lashed out at the United States on Saturday for refusing visas to members of its World Cup squad's support staff, as the players prepared to leave Turkey for Mexico. The row erupted just days before the June 11 start of the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Did Iran's World Cup squad receive US visas?

Iranian players received their US visas late on Friday, according to Washington's envoy to Turkey, Tom Barrack. However, Iran's embassy in Turkey said a "large" number of managerial, executive and administrative staff were denied visas. Players and technical staff were cleared to travel, but around 15 others on the administrative side were not.

Why is Iran based in Mexico for the 2026 World Cup?

Iran shifted its World Cup base from Tucson, Arizona, to the northwestern Mexican border city of Tijuana after ongoing tensions complicated the visa process. All three of Iran's group stage matches are scheduled to be played in the United States. The team will travel across the border for each game during the tournament.

The Iran Football Federation described the visa denials as "political interference in sport in its worst form." The federation said the US government had "deprived Iran's national team of the opportunity to compete without discrimination," and pledged to raise the matter with FIFA. Iran's embassy went further, calling on FIFA to hold the US accountable for what it called discriminatory treatment.

Iran Football Federation chief Mehdi Taj was reportedly among those denied a visa. Taj is a former member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, according to Iranian diaspora media. In April, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had signalled that problems would not concern the players themselves, but rather "some of the other people they would want to bring with them," suggesting ties to the Guards, a group on the US terror blacklist.

What is the background to the Iran-US tensions ahead of the World Cup?

The broader diplomatic backdrop involves an active military conflict. The US and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28, and an April 8 ceasefire has been rapidly unravelling, with a recent exchange of strikes between the two sides. These tensions have directly shaped how Iran has prepared for the tournament and where it has chosen to base itself.

When does Iran play its first World Cup match?

Iran, placed in Group G, face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, then Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, before meeting Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The squad was scheduled to depart Antalya on Saturday afternoon, with a stopover in Spain before arriving in Mexico early Sunday. Iran's state television later reported a revised departure time of 5:30 pm local time.

The team wrapped up its training camp in Antalya, where it had been based since May 18, with two warm-up friendlies. Iran beat Gambia 3-1 on May 29 and defeated Mali 2-0 on Thursday. Iran's embassy in Turkey said the visa matter would continue to be pursued once the delegation arrived in Mexico.