As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, Iran’s national football team is reportedly still waiting for US visas, raising uncertainty over its participation in the tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Abolfazl Pasandideh complained that Iran is not being allowed to compete under “equal conditions,” stating that the team has yet to receive the necessary visas to enter the United States.
Speaking during a visit to the border city of Tijuana in northern Mexico, the ambassador said Iran’s initial plan to hold its training camp in Tucson had now been shifted to Mexico.
According to Al Jazeera, Pasandideh stated, “We still do not know whether the United States will grant visas to the players.”
Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. However, uncertainty surrounding the visa process has raised further questions about the team’s travel plans.
Tensions between the United States and Israel against Iran escalated after recent airstrikes reportedly killed top Iranian leaders. Following the escalation, Iran requested FIFA to move its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico due to security concerns.
FIFA rejected the proposal and confirmed that matches would proceed according to the original schedule.
Meanwhile, a senior envoy of US President Donald Trump, Paolo Zampolli, proposed replacing Iran with Italy in the World Cup.
After four-time world champions Italy once again failed to qualify, reports suggested there were discussions within the Trump administration about bringing Italy into the tournament through a “special arrangement.” FIFA, however, maintained that there was no doubt regarding Iran’s participation.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently stated at an event in Washington that Iran would take part in the tournament.
“Sports should stay outside politics. We hope the situation will be peaceful by the World Cup, but Iran must come and play,” he said.
Under FIFA rules, removing a team that has already qualified is not easy. Another team can only replace a qualified nation if that country voluntarily withdraws from the tournament. Iran has repeatedly stated that it is fully prepared to compete.
Iran and the United States also share a long football rivalry. In the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Iran defeated the US 2–1, while in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the US won 1–0 against Iran.
The 2026 World Cup is set to begin on June 11, with Iran scheduled to play two group-stage matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle. However, until the US visa process is finalized, uncertainty surrounding the Iranian team’s journey is expected to continue.
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