The U.S. government has issued entry visas on a limited basis to members of Iran's national soccer team participating in the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) North and Central America World Cup. Players can enter the United States, but some officials, including the Iran Football Federation president, reportedly did not receive visas.
The British broadcaster BBC reported on the 14th (local time) that the U.S. government approved entry visas for only 4 of 15 Iran team officials. The officials whose visas were denied reapplied after arriving in Mexico, their training camp location, but many were rejected again.
Of those who newly applied for visas, only four — including two staff members from the Iran Football Federation's international department and one performance analyst — were allowed to enter the United States, while six, including Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj, did not receive visas even after reapplying.
Iran, in Group G, will play all three group-stage matches in the United States: against New Zealand on the 16th, Belgium on the 22nd (both in Los Angeles), and Egypt on the 27th (Seattle).
Iran had planned to set up a base camp in Tucson, Arizona, but due to visa issues and bilateral tensions, it is using Tijuana, Mexico, near the U.S. border, as its training hub. Under U.S. stay restrictions, the team must repeatedly enter the United States for each match and then return to Mexico.
The visa issue is not limited to the Iran team. The United States also denied entry to Somali referee Omar Artan on the grounds that he is "connected to an individual suspected of ties to a terrorist organization."
With entry restricted for World Cup team officials and even a referee, criticism is mounting over FIFA's response. FIFA has yet to present a clear solution.
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on social media, "The World Cup must guarantee the safety of participating countries and the free entry of squads, officials, and referees," adding, "This case runs counter to the principles FIFA must uphold." He added, "The universality of football must not be undermined for any political reason."