Iran's football team granted visas to enter US for World Cup, officials say

The approval comes just 10 days before the Iranian squad's opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles.

Iran's World Cup soccer team set off from Turkey for their training base in Mexico on Saturday, with some members of their entourage reportedly still without U.S. visas, before three group ... . The Iranian Football Federation's secretary-general ... . It was unclear whether the federation's ... . The team's participation in the World Cup ... . The federation accused the U.S. ... "vindictive behavior" in refusing visas for "key managerial and administrative members" of the team.

Iran’s World Cup players have been granted visas to enter the United States, a White House official told Reuters on Friday, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, said late Thursday that the squad had still not received their US visas but these were granted overnight, the White House official said.

Iran’s World Cup football players have been granted visas to enter the United States, a White House official told Reuters on Friday, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles amid a conflict between the two countries.

Members of Iran's World Cup soccer team have been granted visas to the United States, two U.S. officials said, clearing them to enter the ... . The team's participation in the World Cup ... .

Members of Iran's World Cup soccer team have been granted visas to the United States, U.S. officials said Friday, clearing them to enter the United States from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of their first two matches near Los Angeles this month.

Iran’s national football team players have been granted visas to enter the United States for the upcoming World Cup, a White House official confirmed on Friday.

Iran's World Cup team has relocated its training base to Mexico after some staff members reportedly had their U.S. visas denied, raising diplomatic tensions ahead of the tournament.

Iran’s football players have been granted US visas ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, although several senior officials and support staff are still awaiting clearance less than two weeks before the team’s opening match. The visa delays have complicated preparations for Iran’s tournament campaign and prompted concerns over the delegation’s ability to travel together for the competition, which is being co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada. A White House official confirmed that Iranian players had received visas to enter the US ahead of their first Group G fixture against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. The confirmation came after Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said earlier this week that the players had not yet received the necessary documents. Iranian media reported on Saturday that some members of the delegation remain without visas. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, those still awaiting approval include Football Federation Secretary General Hedayat Mombini, Executive Director Mehdi Kharati and Media Director Mohsen Motamedkia. Tasnim reported that the officials would travel to Mexico with the team while efforts continue to secure their visas before matches in the United States. The issue comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran earlier this year. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio repeated to lawmakers this week that individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would not be permitted to join the country’s World Cup delegation. Iran has also shifted its training base from Arizona to Tijuana in neighbouring Mexico. After facing New Zealand, Iran will also play Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle during the group stage.

Iran's delegation for the World Cup must be issued multiple-entry visas for their fixtures in the United States, a top official of the Iranian football federation said.