The Iranian national soccer team arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday ahead of the 2026 World Cup amid rising tensions with the United States over visa restrictions on Iranian personnel, according to CNN.
The team landed in the northwestern Mexican city, close to the US border, after Iranian officials accused Washington of creating obstacles to the team’s participation in the tournament.
Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj said the team had been cleared to enter the United States, but only shortly before the matches. “We don’t know to what extent the Americans’ obstructionist policy will continue,” Taj said, according to Iran’s Students’ News Agency (ISNA). “What the United States is doing reflects malice and a lack of equality between teams.”
A US government official told CNN that visas required for Iranian players and essential support staff had been issued. However, the official added: “We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses.”
Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Iranian media reported that the team will stay in Mexico between matches.
According to Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim, the team will travel to the United States on a multi-entry visa, arriving one day before the opening match and two days before the remaining matches in the group stage.
Taj criticized the arrangement, calling it “really strange” and saying Iran would lodge a protest with FIFA. He also expressed concern about potential problems at US airports, linking the issue to broader geopolitical tensions.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said several members of the delegation, including management staff and media personnel, had not yet received permission. «I ask you: what kind of treatment is this? I hope that this situation is corrected and that such behavior is not repeated in the future,» he said.
The Iranian embassy in Ankara also condemned the restrictions, describing them as “the worst possible form of political interference in sports,” according to CNN.
Published on June 8, 2026
