An official from the U.S. confirmed to ABC News on Friday that the members of Iran‘s World Cup soccer team have been granted visas, allowing them to enter and compete in the United States.
The Iranian team applied for their visas at the U.S. embassy in Türkiye, where they are currently training in Antalya in preparation for the World Cup.
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On Friday, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack, seemed to confirm the visa approvals in a post on X, expressing pride in the embassy team’s efforts in processing the visas for Iran’s national football squad heading to the FIFA World Cup.
“Sports transcend borders, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world,” he stated.
An official from the U.S. told The Associated Press that visas had been issued not only to players but also to coaches, trainers, and some support staff. These officials requested anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the visa matters publicly.
The official could not confirm whether any Iranian applicants had faced visa denials. It remains uncertain when the passports will be returned, which would enable the Iranian team to travel, but the official indicated that this could happen as soon as Friday or Saturday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked on Tuesday that the Iranian delegation would be closely monitored for individuals with connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“We have no issue with the athletes or their support staff,” Rubio stated during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing. “However, we will not permit the inclusion of individuals tied to the IRGC or similar entities within their delegation.” He assured that this matter would be monitored closely, but he did not anticipate similar issues with delegations from other countries.
Iran is scheduled to play two of their group stage matches in Inglewood, California — facing New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later. Their third match will take place in Seattle on June 26 against Egypt.
The team’s training camp will now be held in Tijuana, Mexico, instead of Tucson, Arizona, as per the Iranian football federation’s request due to security concerns. They secured their visas for Mexico earlier this week and plan to travel there this weekend.
Mexico is partnering with the U.S. and Canada to co-host the World Cup.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup was uncertain following the joint U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran in late February. Although there have been discussions of a potential peace proposal, tensions persist. FIFA has consistently maintained that Iran will fully participate in the tournament.
In March, President Donald Trump had expressed doubts about Iran’s participation, calling it “inappropriate” and voicing concerns about the safety of the players. The following day, Iran’s national team asserted that “no one can exclude” them from the tournament.
Iran finalized their squad on Monday, including 17 home-based players whose clubs have been inactive since February due to the ongoing war.
The issue of visas has been particularly complex for the Iranian team. In April, Mehdi Taj, the head of the Iranian football federation, had his visa to enter Canada revoked because of his previous association with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, designated as a terrorist organization by both Canada and the U.S.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.