Iran Football Team Receives US Visas for World Cup in Los Angeles
The United States has issued visas for the Iranian national football team, including players and essential support staff, ahead of the World Cup. This approval arrives a mere ten days before Iran's initial match against New Zealand, scheduled for 15 June in Los Angeles.
US officials stated that the visas required for Iran's participation have been processed. However, they explicitly warned against any attempt by the Iranian team to "abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses."
This development follows earlier complications, with Iran's football federation president, Mehdi Taj, attributing the team's relocation of its training base from Arizona to Mexico in late May to visa issues. As recently as last Friday, some technical and administrative staff members reportedly had not received US entry visas.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously informed lawmakers that no individuals with connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, a significant branch of the Iranian armed forces, would be permitted within Iran's football delegation. Several players within the Iranian squad have fulfilled mandatory military service with this organisation.
The FIFA World Cup 2026, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, marks the first instance of a host nation receiving a team from a country it is in a state of conflict with.
