Iran’s national football team has been granted visas to enter the United States, a White House official confirmed on Friday, just 10 days before their opening match in Los Angeles amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Iranian Ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, had earlier stated that the team had not received their visas, but they were approved late on Friday night.
US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack confirmed the development on X, saying, “Proud of our outstanding team at the US Embassy in Ankara for their work processing visas for Iran’s national football team on their road to the @FIFAWorldCup in the United States.”
However, visas for some members of the technical and executive staff are still pending due to technical and administrative issues, sources said on Saturday.
Iran’s football federation is yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
This development comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran. The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become a point of political contention, with both sides navigating the rare situation of a host nation at war with a participating team.
Due to visa delays and security concerns, Iran negotiated a last-minute change, shifting the team’s training base from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico.
The squad is expected to arrive in Tijuana early on Sunday.
Iran is scheduled to play its first Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt.
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