US Issues Visas to Iran Players for Upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026

The Iranian football team heading to the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been given visas to travel to the United States, a White House official confirmed on Friday. This comes just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles, at a time of ongoing tensions between the two countries.

Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, had said late on Thursday that the team had not yet received their US visas. However, the White House official said the visas were issued overnight.

Tehran arranged a last-minute change to the team’s base, shifting it from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico because of visa problems and rising concerns in Iran about keeping the squad’s time in the US as limited as possible.

Iran will begin their Group G campaign on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles. They will also play Belgium there before meeting Egypt in Seattle.

The Iran war has made the FIFA World Cup 2026 feel like more than just football, with both sides seen using it for political messaging. It is the first time since the tournament began in 1930 that a host nation will welcome a team from a country it is currently at war with.

Iran’s ambassador Pasandideh said the US has never officially stated that it does not want the Iran team staying in the country.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that Iran will not be allowed to bring members of its World Cup delegation who are linked to the Revolutionary Guards. If the words of Rubio are true, this rule could affect several players in the Iran squad who have done their required military service with the powerful IRGC military.