US Denies Visas to Iranian Football Officials Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Reports have emerged indicating that the United States has taken an unexpected decision against the Iranian national football team’s delegation preparing for the 2026 World Cup.

According to the Spanish newspaper "AS," the US denied visas to several leaders of the Iranian Football Federation who intended to travel to the country to attend the 2026 World Cup.

The report specifies that visas were refused for the team manager, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Security Administration, as well as the team's media official.

It was noted that a total of 12 visa applications were rejected, although the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) has not officially confirmed this. Nevertheless, those affected plan to accompany the national team to Tijuana, Mexico, on Saturday and will reapply for US entry visas from there.

The Iranian media reported that several Iranian officials, including the head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, and the team manager, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, were denied US entry visas.

The Iranian national team is scheduled to arrive in the city near the California border on Saturday. All team members have obtained visas to enter Mexico and are ready to travel and participate in the tournament.

The upcoming 2026 World Cup will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams for the first time.

Iran is placed in Group G alongside Egypt, Belgium, and New Zealand.