Iran’s football team has been granted visas to enter the United States ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, US officials have confirmed.
The approval arrives just ten days before Iran’s opening group fixture against New Zealand, which is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on 15 June.
“The visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup, including for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued,” officials confirmed in a statement.
US officials also warned they would not allow the Iranian team to “abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses,” adding a sharp note of caution to the announcement.
The Iranian football federation has yet to publicly comment on the visa approvals, leaving the official response from Tehran conspicuously absent.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off on 11 June and is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico across a number of venues.
This edition of the tournament marks the first time a host nation has received the team of a country it is at war with, adding significant political weight to the event.
In late May, Iran relocated its training base from Tucson, Arizona to Mexico, a move Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s soccer federation, attributed directly to visa complications.
As recently as Friday, Fars news agency reported that several members of Iran’s technical and administrative staff had still not received clearance to enter the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers earlier this week that Iran’s football delegation would not be permitted to include individuals with links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, a powerful branch of the Iranian armed forces.
The restriction carries particular significance given that several players within the Iranian squad have completed mandatory military service with the organisation.
The resolution of the visa issue removes one of the most politically charged uncertainties surrounding the tournament, though the situation between the two nations remains deeply complex heading into the competition.
