Addis Ababa, June 5, 2026 (FMC) — Iran’s national football team has been granted U.S. visas ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Reuters reported on Friday, citing a White House official, clearing a major hurdle that had cast uncertainty over the squad’s participation in the tournament.
The visas were issued overnight, just days before Iran’s opening Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles, bringing an end to concerns over whether the team would be able to enter the United States in time for the competition.
The development follows reports from Iranian officials that the squad had yet to receive the necessary travel documents despite the tournament approaching rapidly. The delay had raised questions about the team’s preparations and logistical arrangements ahead of the World Cup.
Amid the uncertainty, Iranian authorities opted to relocate the team’s World Cup training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. The move was linked to the prolonged visa process as well as broader political tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The Iranian squad is expected to arrive in Tijuana before traveling to the United States for its scheduled fixtures.
Iran will begin its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city. The team will then take on Egypt in Seattle as the group-stage competition continues.
The visa issue had attracted considerable international attention given the strained relations between Iran and the United States. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
According to Reuters, while U.S. authorities have allowed Iran’s national team to participate in the tournament, restrictions are expected to apply to certain individuals associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards who may seek to join the broader delegation.
The approval of the visas removes a key obstacle for Team Melli and allows the squad to proceed with its final preparations for the world’s biggest football tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest edition of the tournament in history, featuring 48 national teams for the first time, up from the previous 32-team format. The expanded competition will see teams compete across multiple host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The tournament will officially kick off on June 11 in Mexico City, with matches scheduled to be played in 16 host cities across the three North American nations. The final is set to take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in the New York metropolitan area.
With only days remaining before the opening match, participating teams are finalizing preparations, training camps and travel arrangements as they gear up for football’s premier global event, which is expected to attract millions of spectators and a worldwide television audience numbering in the billions.