As Iran’s football team prepares for their first match in the 2026 World Cup in less than two weeks, the country’s football federation is expecting the team to receive their Mexican visas on Tuesday, followed by U.S. visas on Friday.
“We plan to depart for Spain on Saturday, after which the team will head straight to Tijuana, Mexico,” announced Mehdi Taj, the chief of Iran’s football federation, during an interview on Iranian television.
“We aim to secure the Mexican visa on Tuesday or the following day, after which the U.S. visa will be issued promptly,” Taj added.
Originally slated to hold their training camp in Tucson, Arizona, Iran’s plans were shifted to Tijuana at the request of the football federation due to security concerns, necessitating the acquisition of additional visas. The change in location was made recently.
Team Melli will play two group stage matches in Inglewood, California: against New Zealand on June 15, followed by a match against Belgium on June 21. Their third match is scheduled for June 26 in Seattle, where they will take on Egypt.
The participation of Team Melli in the World Cup has been uncertain since the joint military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran that began in late February. Despite discussions around a potential peace proposal, tensions remain high. FIFA has consistently stated that Iran will fully take part in the tournament.
The visa process has posed particular challenges for the Iranian delegation. In April, Taj’s visa to Canada was revoked because of his previous connections with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, an organization designated as terrorist by both Canada and the U.S.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on Tuesday that the Iranian delegation would be closely monitored for any individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“We have no issues with the athletes or their support staff,” Rubio stated at a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing. “However, we will not permit individuals with connections to the IRGC to be included in their delegation under the guise of being part of the athletic team.”
“We will be keeping a close watch on this, but broadly speaking, I do not expect significant issues with delegations from other countries,” he added.
As professional soccer activities have halted due to the ongoing war, the Iranian team has been training in Antalya, Turkey.