Iran’s plans for the World Cup are in disarray after claims that the national team will only be able to enter the United States on the day of their matches, with the host nation being accused of “discriminatory treatment” over visa denials.
Key members of Iran’s coaching staff have had their visas denied due to the country’s ongoing conflict with the US, with the country’s embassy in Turkey lambasting the US government for “the worst possible form of politically-biased interference in sport”.
“Why do you not say that visas were denied to a large portion of the managerial and executive staff, technical advisers, and others who are an integral part of any national football team?” the Iranian embassy posted on X, referring to an earlier announcement by the US envoy Tom Barrack that visas had been granted to players.
“You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level.”
The US State Department claimed that the “visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup” had been issued and asserted: “We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.”
The national federation negotiated a last-minute move of the team’s base for the tournament from Arizona to Mexico amid the diplomatic standoff, but in a fresh twist, the country’s ambassador to Mexico has claimed the team will only be allowed into the US on the day of their group games before departing immediately after full-time.
World Cup rules dictate that every team is expected to travel the day before each match, attending a press conference at the stadium.
Iran will seemingly be unable to fulfil these duties, according Iran’s envoy Abolfazl Pasandideh, who has told reporters that “we can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day”, citing visa restrictions.
It comes after months of uncertainty over Iran’s participation at the tournament, with Trump posting on Truth Social in March that he did not believe it would be “appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety”.
Iran will play their first Group G match on 15 June against New Zealand in Los Angeles before returning to SoFi Stadium to face Belgium in their second outing on 21 June. Their group campaign will then finish in Seattle against Egypt on 26 June.
