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Iranian squad lands in Mexico after US visa row
Iran's national football team touched down in Tijuana early Sunday, forced to relocate its World Cup base after a bitter dispute over US entry permits left key officials stranded.
Visa denials spark diplomatic clash
Fifteen Iranian officials-including the football federation chief, his deputy, and a media director-were barred from entering the US, Iranian state-linked media reported. The team's three group-stage matches are all scheduled in American cities, but players and essential staff were told they must fly in and out on match days only.
Iran's embassy in Turkey condemned the move as "politically biased interference in sport," urging FIFA to intervene. US officials countered that the denials targeted individuals with suspected ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the armed forces where several squad members completed mandatory military service.
US cites security concerns
On Friday, US authorities confirmed visas for all players and "necessary support staff" but warned against attempts to "abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences." Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier stated that the delegation would face scrutiny over IRGC affiliations.
"This is political interference in sport in its worst form,"
Iranian official
Training base relocated amid tensions
The team abandoned its original camp in Tucson, Arizona, in late May, shifting operations to Tijuana. Their opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles is set for June 15, followed by fixtures against Belgium in California and Egypt in Seattle.
Historic World Cup backdrop
This year's tournament, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, marks the first time a host nation (the US) will welcome a team from a country it is actively engaged in conflict with. Iran secured its berth in March 2025, nearly a year before escalating hostilities with the US and Israel.
