Iran’s national football team has been granted visas to enter the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending weeks of uncertainty over travel arrangements, US officials confirmed.
The decision comes just 10 days before Iran’s opening Group Stage match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June.
“The visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup, including for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued,” US officials said in a statement.
However, officials stressed that security screening would remain strict, adding that the United States would not allow the Iranian delegation to “abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses.”
Iran’s Football Federation has not yet publicly responded to the visa approvals.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins on 11 June, is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament marks the first time a World Cup host nation will welcome a team from a country with which it is currently in a state of armed conflict.
Visa concerns had cast doubt over Iran’s preparations in recent weeks. In late May, the team relocated its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Mexico. Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation, said the move was prompted by visa-related difficulties.
As recently as Friday, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that several members of the team’s technical and administrative staff were still awaiting approval to travel to the United States.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that Iran’s World Cup delegation would not be permitted to include individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), one of Iran’s most influential military institutions.
Several players in Iran’s squad have previously completed compulsory military service involving the IRGC, although no indication has been given that this would affect their participation in the tournament.
With visas now approved, Iran can focus on its World Cup campaign as the countdown to kick-off enters its final days.
