Iran football team cleared to travel to US for World Cup after visa approval

Iran football team cleared to travel to US for World Cup after visa approval
Iran football team cleared to travel to US for World Cup after visa approval - Iranian football players huddle together after a 6‑2 defeat to England in the 2022 World Cup. (Photo: IMAGO via DW)
Iranian football players huddle together after a 6‑2 defeat to England in the 2022 World Cup. (Photo: IMAGO via DW)

A White House official confirmed the approvals to Reuters, coming just a day after Iranian officials said the squad had still not received the required US entry documents.

Iran’s national football team will be able to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing entry visas, resolving a last-minute uncertainty over their participation in one of the countries hosting the tournament.
Iran, drawn in Group G, is scheduled to play three matches in the US. They kick off against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, meet Belgium on June 21 in the same city and close out the group stage against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
A White House official confirmed the approvals to Reuters, coming just a day after Iranian officials said the squad had still not received the required US entry documents.

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The development comes nearly two weeks after FIFA announced that Iran will base its training camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico instead of the US.
In a late-May update announcing official training camps for the 48 participating teams, FIFA named the Mexican border city of Tijuana as Iran’s base for the tournament, replacing earlier plans for a camp in Arizona. The Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana was designated as the team’s training facility for the duration of its pre-tournament preparations.
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Iran had initially chosen Tucson, Arizona, as the base for its World Cup preparations, but the plan was later dropped amid growing uncertainty over visa processing, entry requirements and broader travel arrangements for players and team officials entering the US ahead of the tournament.

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Tijuana in Mexico ultimately emerged as the alternative, offering simpler access and fewer administrative hurdles compared with staying on the US side of the border.
Mexican authorities subsequently acknowledged the arrangement, with President Claudia Sheinbaum saying FIFA  turned to Mexico after the US reportedly declined to host the Iranian team throughout the tournament period.
“The United States doesn’t want the Iranian national team to stay overnight in the United States. And we said Yes, no problem. We have no issue with that,” Sheinbaum told reporters after the announcement.
The change in Iran’s training camp came against the backdrop of ongoing conflict between Tehran and Washington, with a fragile ceasefire and periodic escalations continuing to shape relations between the two countries.

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