Iran Football Federation Addresses Mehdi Torabi's Visa Issue Ahead of World Cup Matches

The Iran Football Federation has revealed that winger Mehdi Torabi's visa expired after a single entry to the U.S. for the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. As the team prepares for their next matches, efforts are underway to secure a new visa for Torabi. Iran's group-stage matches are being played from their base in Tijuana, Mexico, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. The team's recent match against New Zealand ended in a 2-2 draw, showcasing a competitive spirit. Read on to learn more about the challenges faced by the Iranian team during this tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 17, 2026, 07:16 IST

Visa Complications for Mehdi Torabi

Tehran [Iran], June 17: The Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) announced on Tuesday that winger Mehdi Torabi's visa has expired after his recent trip to the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener in Los Angeles.

An FFIRI representative explained, “Although the team received multiple-entry visas for their players, Torabi's visa was only valid for a single entry.”

After the match against New Zealand in Los Angeles, Torabi's visa became invalid. The federation is currently working to secure a new visa for him, allowing him to join the national team for their upcoming matches.

According to reports, Iran is based in Tijuana, Mexico, for their three group-stage matches, with the first two taking place in Los Angeles and the final one in Seattle.

In their World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium, Iran and New Zealand played to a thrilling 2-2 draw. New Zealand initially took the lead with a goal from Elijah Just, but Iran equalized just before halftime through Ramin Rezaeian.

New Zealand regained the lead in the second half with Just's second goal, assisted by Chris Wood, but Iran fought back again with a header from Mohammad Mohebbi, resulting in a hard-fought draw in Group G.

Iran's participation in the World Cup comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions with the United States and Israel. The team had to relocate their base camp from Arizona to Tijuana due to uncertainties regarding visa arrangements for the tournament.

This decision followed weeks of anxiety over whether the Iranian delegation would obtain the necessary visas to participate in the World Cup.