Iran’s participation in this summer’s World Cup is expected to proceed as planned after FIFA assured the country’s sports ministry that all players will receive U.S. visas, despite regional tensions and ongoing conflict. Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali told local media on Monday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino promised the Iranian squad would be granted the necessary visas to compete in the United States.
“The FIFA president promised us that all our players would receive visas. There is no reason why our players should not receive visas,” Donyamali told ISNA, expressing confidence that all conditions would be met for Iran to participate “in a calm and orderly manner.”
To avoid potential U.S. visa complications, Iran’s football federation has relocated the team’s tournament base to Tijuana, Mexico, near the U.S. border. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that Mexico would host the Iranian squad, while Iran’s sports minister added that the team is expected to receive multiple-entry U.S. visas while in Mexico.
At last month’s FIFA congress in Vancouver, Infantino reaffirmed that Iran will play its scheduled World Cup matches in the U.S., upholding the host nation’s obligation to provide visas for all teams. The Iranian squad is currently preparing in Antalya, Turkey, with some players already submitting visa applications at the U.S. embassy in Ankara.
Iran will open their Group G campaign in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15, followed by matches against Belgium on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, kicks off on June 11.
