Iran's national football team arrived in Mexico on June 8 to begin preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the squad's buildup has been overshadowed by visa disputes, a controversial squad omission, and ongoing geopolitical tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The Iranian delegation landed in Tijuana under high security, establishing their base camp at the facilities of Mexican club Club Tijuana. The team will fly in and out of the United States on match days, having been forced to relocate their training base from Tucson, Arizona, after the US government made clear it did not want the Iranian squad staying overnight on American soil.
While all 26 players in Iran's World Cup squad received US entry visas at the eleventh hour, several key members of the technical and administrative staff were denied entry. Iran Football Federation secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini and vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi are among those refused visas, according to team officials.
Iran defender Ehsan Hajsafi expressed frustration with the situation and directed criticism at football's governing body.
"With everything that happened, visas were eventually issued," Hajsafi said. "Personally, however, I do have a complaint about FIFA. Why did it take so long? As far as I understand, visas were issued only to the players and a few members of the coaching staff."
"Unfortunately, several key members of our coaching staff, whose roles are very important within the team, were not granted visas," Hajsafi added. "That includes the team manager, the executive director and the media director. From here, I would like to ask FIFA to address this issue so that the situation can be resolved in the coming days."
On the pitch, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has built his 26-man squad around Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi and experienced winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who will lead the attacking line in North America. Notably absent is star forward Sardar Azmoun, who was controversially dropped from the squad following a widely reported dispute with team management.
Iran's squad includes 17 home-based players, reflecting the logistical and political challenges the federation has faced in fielding a full-strength team amid the broader US-Iran conflict.
The team prepared for the tournament with a behind-closed-doors training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where they played friendlies against Gambia and Mali. Upon arrival in Mexico, players wore pins bearing the number 168 in memory of the victims of the Minab school bombing, a symbolic gesture reflecting the political backdrop to their participation.
Iran opens their Group G campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt. The 2026 World Cup features 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout rounds.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed her government welcomed Iran's presence, saying: "We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico. The United States does not want the Iranian team to stay overnight, but they are going to play three matches there. So they asked us if they could stay overnight in Mexico, and we said yes, no problem."
Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said FIFA president Gianni Infantino had personally assured Tehran that all players would receive travel documents. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that Iran's players would be welcome at the tournament, while individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could face entry restrictions.
Iran FA president Mehdi Taj was himself refused entry to the United States at the recent FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, underscoring the diplomatic difficulties surrounding the team's participation.
FIFA has faced mounting criticism for its handling of the visa situation, with multiple teams and officials encountering entry problems ahead of the tournament kick-off on June 11.
Sources: Inside World Football, Reuters, Al Jazeera, FIFA.com
