FIFA World Cup 2026: US Grants Visa to Iranian Players but Denies Team Staff, Allegations of Discrimination Arise
Image Source, Reuters
Iran accuses the US of refusing visas to several members of its national football team delegation, alleging discriminatory treatment and a failure to fulfill its obligations as World Cup host.
According to Iranian media, the United States has denied visas to 15 members of Iran’s delegation, excluding the players themselves.
Following Washington’s confirmation that Iranian players have received visas for the upcoming World Cup, Iran swiftly accused the US of refusing to grant visas to “integral” team members.
US officials stated that all players and “necessary support staff” were granted visas on Friday, 10 days prior to Iran’s opening match scheduled for June 15 in Los Angeles.
Officials emphasized that the US will not tolerate the misuse of its system under false pretenses to allow terrorists to hide within the country.
Iran’s embassy in Turkey has accused the US of “politically biased interference in sports,” stating that a substantial portion of the team’s managerial and executive staff as well as technical advisors have not received visas.
Iranian government sources report that 15 administrative officials, including the heads and deputies of the Football Federation and its communications director, were barred from entering the US.
The team departed from its training base in Turkey on Saturday en route to Mexico, where they will remain for the duration of the competition.
Welcoming a War-Torn Nation
Image Source, Getty Images
According to the Iranian ambassador in Mexico, the visa conditions require the Iranian team to enter the US on the day of their match and exit on the same day.
In a statement, they asserted, “The intentional and discriminatory behavior by the US against the Iranian national football team has reached an extreme level.”
Officials at the Iranian embassy have appealed to FIFA, the global football governing body, to intervene in the matter.
The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by three countries—US, Canada, and Mexico—and is scheduled to begin on June 11. Iran secured its place by finishing top of its qualifying group in March 2025, almost a year before hostilities with the US erupted.
This tournament marks the first time host countries will welcome a team from an actively war-torn nation.
Image Source, AFP via Getty Images
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not disclosed whether the Iranian national team members or officials traveling during the tournament will face any restrictions.
However, DHS affirmed its commitment to the safety of the American public and participants of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The department also stated it is fully engaged in government efforts to secure all 11 venues across the country, including Los Angeles.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said individuals connected to Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will not be allowed entry and that the Iranian delegation would be denied visas accordingly.
Many players on the Iranian team have completed compulsory military service with this organization.
