With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, the Iranian national football team remains in limbo as it is yet to receive visas for entry into the United States. The 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is one of the biggest sporting spectacles in the world.
Despite qualifying for the event, Iran’s team has not received the necessary visas, raising fears of potential complications or even replacement in the tournament.
The Iranian Ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said the team is still waiting for US visas to be approved and claimed that Iran is not competing on “equal terms”.
The ambassador made the remarks while visiting the north-western Mexican border city of Tijuana, where the Iranian players have relocated their training camp. The team had originally planned to base itself in Tucson, Arizona, for the World Cup.
“We don’t know whether or not they’re [the US] going to give the players their visas,” the ambassador said.
Iran is scheduled to play in Los Angeles on June 15 against New Zealand, on June 21 against Belgium, and on June 26 against Egypt in Seattle.
Meanwhile, some US senators of Italian origin have reportedly urged President Donald Trump and FIFA to replace Iran with Italy, which failed to qualify for the tournament.
However, FIFA authorities have not indicated any move to exclude the Iranian team, as such a step would violate the rules of international football.
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