World Cup: Iran slams US over Visa denials days before tournament

Iran has accused the United States of discriminating against its World Cup delegation after several senior football officials were reportedly denied visas ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

The dispute comes less than a week before the tournament kicks off and just days before Iran’s opening Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles.

In a statement shared through its diplomatic mission, Iran criticized the US for allegedly failing to facilitate the entry of all members of its delegation, insisting that tournament participants are guests of FIFA and should be granted the necessary travel documents without political interference.

Iranian media reported that Executive Director, Mehdi Kharati, Football Federation Secretary-General, Hedayat Mombini and Media Director, Mohsen Motamedkia were among the officials yet to receive US visas, despite the national team preparing for the competition.

The country’s football authorities condemned what they described as discriminatory treatment, saying the United States was not fulfilling its obligations as a World Cup host.

“The incompetent FIFA World Cup host, USA, is failing to fulfill its responsibilities properly. We are guests of FIFA, and it is FIFA’s responsibility to ensure that visas for all members are issued,” the statement said.

Despite the dispute, Iran confirmed that the national team and accompanying officials would travel to Mexico, where they will establish their training base while efforts continue to resolve the visa issues before entering the United States for their matches.

US officials have maintained that visas were issued to Iran’s players and the necessary support staff, while some applications were reportedly rejected over security concerns.

The visa controversy unfolds against the backdrop of heightened political tensions between Tehran and Washington, with Iran having previously hinted at reconsidering its participation in the tournament if travel issues persisted.