The Iranian squad for the 2026 World Cup touched down in Mexico on Sunday amidst escalating tensions, following the United States’ refusal to grant visas to some of their support personnel.
Upon arriving at Tijuana airport, head coach Amir Ghalenoei voiced his discontent, stating, “We should have arrived last week. The 12-hour time difference requires a two-week adjustment period. In these tournaments, ethical and human considerations should take precedence, which I believe were overlooked in our case.”
Having departed from their training facility in Turkey a day prior, the team landed at approximately 5 AM local time on Sunday. Despite playing all their group-stage matches in the United States, Ghalenoei’s team will remain based in Tijuana throughout the tournament.
As the players and coaching staff disembarked, they were met with strict security measures, including a presence from the Mexican national guard. Only a small group of fans, brandishing Iranian flags, gathered at the airport to welcome them from afar.
This diplomatic spat has unfolded just days ahead of the World Cup’s opening match on Thursday, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Ghalenoei expressed gratitude towards FIFA for their interventions in securing their entry, but added, “We are disappointed by this treatment. This has certainly never happened before.”
Team captain Ehsan Hajsafi also shared his frustrations regarding the visa delays, questioning, “Why was this process so late? Over the past year, we have endured two imposed wars in our homeland.” He maintained that the team is entirely prepared and asserted, “We are confident we can progress from the group stage.”
Iran’s Group G matches are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, with games against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, as well as in Seattle against Egypt on June 26. This World Cup marks the first time that a host nation will welcome a team from a nation it is in conflict with.
The squad dedicated nearly three weeks at their training camp in Turkey, during which they applied for visas to travel to Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Just before their departure, they finally received their US visas, according to Tom Barrack, Washington’s envoy to Turkey.
However, Iran’s embassy in Turkey reported that support staff were denied entry visas. Reports indicate that 15 administrative and management personnel are affected, as confirmed by an Iranian diplomat and state television.
The embassy criticized what it described as “intentional and discriminatory treatment” towards Iran’s national football team, urging FIFA to hold the US accountable for what it termed violations of its regulations.
Compounding the situation, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico revealed that the squad was informed they must enter and exit US territory on the same day as their matches.
“We are allowed to enter in the morning and must leave the same day,” stated Iran’s envoy, Abolfazl Pasandideh, during a press briefing. This statement appeared to contradict earlier claims made by team spokesperson Amir Mahdi Alavi, who had stated that the national team was issued multiple-entry visas.
Alavi had noted, “The national team will arrive at the match venue one day before the first game, and for subsequent matches, two days in advance.” FIFA regulations stipulate that coaches are required to hold a press conference the day before their matches at the venue.
Iran’s football federation, whose president Mehdi Taj reportedly was among those denied a visa, condemned the decision as “political interference in sports at its most egregious.”
A US administration representative did not specifically address the issue of the denied visas, but remarked, “We will not permit the Iranian team to exploit this system to infiltrate terrorists into the United States under false pretenses.”
