Iranian Football Team Awaits Visas Less Than 12 Days Before World Cup

The Iranian Football Federation announced on Saturday that the national team is still waiting to obtain entry visas for the United States and Mexico, less than 12 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup.

The federation stated it had sent an official letter to FIFA requesting transparency and clarification regarding the visa procedures for members of the Iranian delegation. It noted that it has not yet received a response from FIFA and added that the team’s travel plans for the tournament remain undecided due to the current circumstances.

Initially, Iran intended to hold its training camp in Tucson, Arizona, in preparation for the World Cup. However, the team later decided to relocate the camp to Tijuana, Mexico, following a statement by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum indicating that the United States was not prepared to allow the team to stay overnight.

Iran is placed in Group 7 of the tournament, where it will face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. The matches will take place in Los Angeles and Seattle. The team’s first game in the competition is scheduled for June 15.