As the 2026 joint North American World Cup approaches, a bitter diplomatic dispute between the United States and Iran has spilled onto the global football pitch, just 10 days ahead of Iran’s opening group stage match.
The controversy broke hours after Washington officially confirmed that all Iranian national team players had been cleared for travel to the tournament to be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. On Friday, US authorities stated they had issued entry visas to all players and what they classified as “necessary support staff” ahead of Iran’s first fixture in Los Angeles on June 15. However, US officials also made a pointed assertion that Iran would not be permitted to “abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences”.
Tehran has hit back hard at the visa restrictions, with Iran’s embassy in Turkey issuing a scathing statement accusing the US of “politically biased interference in sport”. The embassy confirmed that a large share of the team’s managerial, executive and technical backroom staff – members the Iranian side describes as integral to the team’s participation – have been blocked from receiving entry visas. Iranian state-affiliated media has further specified that the head of Iran’s national football federation and his deputy are among those denied entry, a snub that Tehran calls a deliberate escalation of discriminatory treatment against the Iranian delegation. The Iranian embassy called the US’s earlier announcement of visa clearance for the team a “whitewash”, adding that “You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level.”
Iran has formally called on FIFA, the global governing body of football, to step in and mediate the dispute to protect the principles of neutrality in international sport.
This unprecedented World Cup already carries historic context: it marks the first time a host nation has accepted the national team of a country with which it is currently at war. Iran qualified for the 48-team tournament back in March 2025, finishing top of its qualification group nearly a year before open conflict broke out between the two nations. In late May, in anticipation of visa difficulties, Iran relocated its pre-tournament training base from Tucson, Arizona to Mexico to avoid potential disruptions.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio informed Congress that no members of Iran’s delegation linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s powerful military branch, would be granted entry. The policy has created further friction, as several players in the Iranian national squad have completed mandatory military service with the IRGC, placing their own participation in potential jeopardy despite earlier US confirmation that all players had received visas.
After facing England in Los Angeles on June 15, Iran is scheduled to play two additional group stage matches: against Belgium in Southern California and against Egypt in Seattle, Washington.