Iran’s World Cup Team Granted US Visas for Los Angeles and Seattle Matches
Players cleared to enter, but senior officials and more than a dozen support staff denied entry under strict US screening policies amid ongoing war
WASHINGTON / TEHRAN — In a landmark decision just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, the United States has granted visas to the Iranian national soccer team, clearing the way for the players to compete in their three group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle .
However, the approval comes with significant restrictions: more than a dozen members of Iran’s support staff—including coaches, trainers, analysts, and medical personnel—have been denied entry, along with the president of the Iranian football federation, Mehdi Taj, who is a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) .
The decision represents an unprecedented moment in World Cup history: for the first time in the tournament’s nearly 100-year history, a host nation is set to receive a country it is actively at war with . The United States and Iran have been engaged in armed conflict since February 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, triggering a regional war that has now entered its fourth month .
The Visas: Players Cleared, Staff Denied
After months of uncertainty about its participation in the World Cup, Iran’s soccer team finally received confirmation of its US entry status on Friday.
According to four senior officials with direct knowledge of the team’s visa status, applications from all 26 members of Iran’s World Cup roster have been accepted . A US administration official confirmed to The Athletic that “the visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup, including for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued” .
However, more than a dozen members of the team’s broader traveling party—including coaches, trainers, analysts, medical personnel, and Iranian football federation officials—have had their visa applications rejected . The president of the Iranian federation, Mehdi Taj, who also serves as a former commander in the IRGC, also had his visa denied .
A US official, speaking to The Boston Globe on condition of anonymity, confirmed that visas had been issued for players, coaches, trainers, and some support staff, but could not say how many Iranian applicants had been denied .
The US State Department has made clear that individuals with ties to the IRGC—which the United States classifies as a “foreign terrorist organization”—will not be permitted to enter the country . “We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses,” a US administration official told The Athletic .
A Historic and Unprecedented Situation
The war between the United States and Iran—which began with US and Israeli air strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February—has created a unique and deeply uncomfortable situation for FIFA, the World Cup’s governing body .
This is the first World Cup since its inception in 1930 in which a host nation is due to receive a country it is at war with . The episode has proven a significant embarrassment for FIFA, which had refused to allow Iran to move its matches to Mexico, where the team has established its tournament base .
In March, President Donald Trump discouraged Iran from participating in the tournament, saying he did not think it was “appropriate” and raising concerns over players’ “life and safety” . A day later, Iran’s national team pushed back, stating that “no one can exclude” it from playing, and Trump later backtracked .
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that Iran would be welcomed to play in the World Cup, but staff with links to the IRGC would be denied entry .
The Road to the World Cup: Iran’s Preparations
The Iranian national team has been preparing for the tournament under extraordinary circumstances. The squad have been training in the Turkish resort city of Antalya since May 19, where they played four friendlies, including a 2-0 victory over Mali on Thursday .
The friendlies represent the only competitive football the Iran-based players have played since the domestic league was suspended following the outbreak of war on February 28 .
Iran finalized its 26-man squad on Monday, including 17 home-based players whose clubs have not played since February because of the war . Star forward Sardar Azmoun was dropped in March, reportedly because of a social media post that angered Iranian authorities during the war .
Initially, Iran had planned to base its World Cup training camp in Tucson, Arizona. However, the team moved its base to Tijuana, Mexico, as it waited for visa approvals . The squad has already received visas from Mexico’s embassy in Ankara and is scheduled to depart Turkey for Tijuana on Saturday, June 6 .
Group G Schedule: Los Angeles and Seattle
Iran will play all three of its Group G matches on US soil, at venues in Southern California and Seattle .
| Date | Location | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2026 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA | Iran vs. New Zealand |
| June 21, 2026 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA | Iran vs. Belgium |
| June 26, 2026 | Lumen Field, Seattle, WA | Iran vs. Egypt |
Source: FIFA Group G schedule
If both teams finish second in their groups, Iran and the United States could meet in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas .
FIFA’s Role and Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had been working behind the scenes to resolve one of the biggest crises in tournament history . Infantino met with Iranian officials in March, and his deputy, Secretary General Mattias Grafström, traveled to Turkey last month as Iran arrived to begin its training camp .
Infantino previously provided assurances that no team would face problems entering the United States for the World Cup, after the executive order implementing travel restrictions for nationals from 12 countries—including Iran—explicitly exempted athletes and team staff participating in the tournament .
‘Sports Transcends Borders’: US Ambassador Praises Embassy Staff
US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack publicly commended his embassy staff in Ankara for their work processing the Iranian team’s visas.
“Proud of our outstanding team at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for their work processing visas for Iran’s national football team on their road to the @FIFAWorldCup in the United States,” Barrack wrote on X .
“Sports transcends borders, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world,” he added .
What About Iranian Fans? Travel Ban Remains in Effect
While the Iranian team has been granted entry, ordinary Iranian citizens—including fans hoping to travel to the United States to support their team—remain barred from entry under the US travel ban affecting nationals from 12 countries, including Iran .
FIFA has reportedly received assurances that no team will face problems entering the United States, but the ban on spectators of specific nationalities has been condemned by football fans and legal experts as a breach of the principle of equal access to global events, potentially setting a “dangerous precedent” for future tournaments .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Have all Iranian World Cup players received US visas?
A: Yes. According to multiple US officials, all 26 members of Iran’s World Cup roster have been granted US visas and are in the process of receiving them .
Q2: Were any Iranian team members denied visas?
A: Yes. More than a dozen members of Iran’s support staff—including coaches, analysts, and medical personnel—have been denied entry. The president of the Iranian football federation, Mehdi Taj, a former IRGC commander, also had his visa rejected .
Q3: Why were some staff members denied visas?
A: The United States classifies the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “foreign terrorist organization.” Individuals with ties to the IRGC are not permitted to enter the country .
Q4: Where will Iran play its World Cup matches?
A: Iran will play all three of its Group G matches in the United States: two at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21), and one at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington (against Egypt on June 26) .
Q5: Why is this situation unprecedented?
A: This is the first time in World Cup history that a host nation is receiving a country it is actively at war with. The US and Iran have been in armed conflict since February 28, when the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran .
Q6: Can Iranian fans travel to the US to watch the matches?
A: No. Iranian nationals remain subject to the US travel ban affecting nationals from 12 countries, including Iran. Only athletes and essential team staff have been exempted .
Q7: Could Iran and the US play each other in the tournament?
A: Yes. If both teams finish second in their groups, they would meet in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas .
This is a developing story. Reflecto News will continue to provide updates on Iran’s World Cup participation and any further developments regarding team travel and security arrangements.
