Iran's Football Team Secures Visas for FIFA World Cup 2026 Participation

The Iranian national football team has successfully obtained visas to participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026, alleviating concerns about their involvement due to regional conflicts. With their training base now in Mexico, the team is set to kick off their campaign against New Zealand on June 15. This article delves into the visa approval process and the team's upcoming match schedule, highlighting the challenges they faced along the way.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 6, 2026, 11:10 IST

Iran's Visa Approval for World Cup

The Iranian national football team has received the necessary visas to enter the United States for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. As the tournament approaches, set to take place across the US, Canada, and Mexico, there were initial concerns regarding Iran's participation due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. However, following confirmation from Iranian officials, attention turned to the visa situation in the US.

On Thursday, Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, indicated that the team had not yet received their visas, which led to speculation. Nevertheless, a White House official later confirmed that the required visas for the players and essential support staff had been processed overnight. According to Reuters, "The visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup have been issued." However, the Iranian football federation has yet to verify this information.

Previously, the Iranian team had relocated its training base from Arizona in the US to Tijuana, Mexico, to mitigate visa complications and minimize their time spent in the US. The team is scheduled to arrive in Tijuana on Sunday morning.

Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that the US would not permit the inclusion of individuals associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, which may affect some players who have completed their mandatory military service with the group.

Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule

Iran is set to begin its World Cup journey in a Group G match against New Zealand on June 15. Following that, they will face Belgium on June 21 and Egypt on June 26. The matches against New Zealand and Belgium will occur at SoFi Stadium, while the game against Egypt will take place at Lumen Field.