Iran team leaves for Mexico amid U.S. visa dispute

Iran’s national soccer team left Turkey for Mexico on Saturday as a dispute over U.S. visas for team officials intensified less than two weeks before its first World Cup match in Los Angeles.

Iranian officials accused the United States of denying visas to key members of the team’s entourage, even as U.S. officials said all Iranian players had been cleared to travel for the tournament. The team departed from its training camp in Antalya, Turkey, after moving its base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, because of problems with visa processing.

Iranian state television reported that 14 backroom staff and officials still lacked U.S. visas, including Iranian Football Federation secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini and vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi. The BBC, citing Iranian state-linked media, reported that 15 administration officials were denied entry, including the federation head, his deputy and a media director. It was unclear whether federation president Mehdi Taj had received a visa.

The Iranian Football Federation accused the United States of “vindictive behavior” and said the visa refusals affected “key managerial and administrative members” of the team. The decision had “effectively denied the Iranian national team the opportunity for a level playing field and a competition free from discrimination,” the federation said in a statement, adding that it would pursue the matter through FIFA.

Iran’s embassy in Ankara also criticized a social media post by U.S. Ambassador Tom Barrack, who had congratulated embassy staff for processing the team’s visas. “You cannot whitewash conduct that violates FIFA regulations and breaches the United States’ host obligations merely by praising yourselves,” the Iranian post said. “This represents the worst possible form of politically biased interference in sport.”

U.S. officials said Friday that visas had been issued to all players and necessary support staff. One U.S. official told The Associated Press that all players had been approved, while another said visas had been issued for players, coaches, trainers and some support staff. A third official suggested some applicants affiliated with the team had been rejected for requesting visas “under false pretenses.” The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the visas publicly.

The BBC reported that U.S. officials also said Iran would not be allowed to “abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.” The U.S. Department of Homeland Security told the BBC it is “steadfast in our commitment to the safety and security of the American people and attendees of the 2026 FIFA World Cup” and said it is involved in securing the 11 U.S. host city sites, including Los Angeles.

Earlier this week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers Iran’s football delegation would not be allowed to include individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards. Several Iranian players have completed mandatory military service with the group.

Iran’s squad, dressed in blue blazers over white T-shirts, left the Mardan Palace hotel in Antalya on Saturday afternoon and boarded a private jet. The team said it had received visas from the Mexican Embassy in Ankara. Iran’s ambassador to Mexico said that under the terms of their U.S. visas, the squad would have to enter and leave the United States on the same day as its matches, according to the BBC.

Iran opens against New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15, then plays Belgium there six days later before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly said Iran will take part in the tournament, saying in April that “of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026” and “of course Iran will play in the United States of America.”