Iran’s Ahead #23 Ramin Rezaeian celebrates with teammates after scoring their facet’s second aim throughout a world pleasant soccer match between Iran and Gambia, in Antalya, southern Turkey, Could 29, 2026. — AFP
Iran’s World Cup soccer gamers have obtained visas to enter the US, a US official mentioned days earlier than their first match, however Iranian media mentioned on Saturday that some administrative workers had not gotten their visas.
The White Home official instructed Reuters on Friday, 10 days earlier than Iran performs in Los Angeles, that the gamers had obtained their visas, after Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, mentioned on Thursday that they’d not obtained them.
A spokesman for Iran’s World Cup federation couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
First World Cup with hosts receiving battle adversary
Iranian Ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh poses for an image throughout an interview with Reuters, in Mexico Metropolis, Mexico, June 4, 2026. — Reuters
Workers members with out visas would journey to Mexico with the crew whereas efforts to acquire visas proceed, the company mentioned.
The US, Mexico and Canada are co-hosting the largest world sporting occasion, which begins on Wednesday. The battle on Iran, launched by the US and Israel in February, has turned the World Cup right into a geopolitical contest, with either side showing to make use of the match for political posturing.
That is the primary World Cup since its inception in 1930 through which a bunch nation is ready to obtain a rustic it’s at battle with.
Tehran negotiated a last-minute transfer of the crew’s base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, as a result of visa points and a rising feeling in Iran that the squad’s presence in the US needs to be stored to a minimal.
They’re scheduled to land in Tijuana early on Sunday.
Iran are as a result of play their first Group G match on June 15 in opposition to New Zealand in Los Angeles, the place they can even face Belgium earlier than taking up Egypt in Seattle.
Rubio says US to bar individuals linked to Revolutionary Guards
The US by no means formally mentioned it didn’t need the Iran crew to remain on its territory, Ambassador Pasandideh mentioned.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testifies throughout a Senate International Relations Committee listening to within the Dirksen Senate Workplace Constructing on June 02, 2026, in Washington, DC, US. — AFP
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, nonetheless, instructed lawmakers on Tuesday that the US wouldn’t permit Iran to incorporate in its delegation individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a strong department of the Iranian armed forces.
Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s soccer federation, was denied entry for the match attract Washington in December. He’s a former commander within the Revolutionary Guards.
Iran’s want to compete within the World Cup underscored its efforts to succeed in a decision within the battle with Washington, Pasandideh mentioned.
“Iran’s participation in the World Cup – even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy – shows that Iran seeks peace,” Pasandideh mentioned via a Spanish interpreter on the Iranian embassy in Mexico Metropolis.
Progress in peace talks between Iran and the US has been sluggish, with either side seemingly inching towards an interim settlement whilst they proceed to hold out army strikes.
