FIFA says Iran will play World Cup—visa reality bites

Will Iran’s – Gianni Infantino insists Iran will participate and play at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, including matches in the United States. But recent visa denials in Canada involving top Iranian officials, plus U.S. travel restrictions and unclear rules on “

Gianni Infantino said it plainly at FIFA’s annual meeting: Iran will be at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and Iran will play in the United States.

“Of course, Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026. And of course Iran will play in the United States of America,” the FIFA president said. He added the motive was simple—“we have to unite”—and called it “our responsibility.”

But the road from a presidential assurance to a matchday lineup is a mess of visas, definitions and checkpoints—one that Iran has already hit in Canada, even before anyone is thinking about the opening whistle.

At the center of the doubt is what happens when a team’s tournament plan meets immigration realities.

Three Iranian Football Federation officials. including Mehdi Taj. were denied entry to Canada as they tried to travel to FIFA’s annual meeting in Vancouver. Canada is one of the host countries for the World Cup, alongside the United States and Mexico. The three allegedly had valid visas. but Iranian officials said they were turned away because of “inappropriate behavior of immigration officials.”.

Canadian officials first described the denial of entry as “unintentional.” Later. Canada’s immigration minister said agents acted correctly because of the officials’ ties to the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—which Canada considers a terrorist organization. Taj is a former member of the IRGC.

Taous Ait, the press secretary for Canadian Immigration Minister Lena Diab, said: “While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country.”

Two other Iranian Football Federation officials were allowed into Canada, but they did not attend FIFA’s Congress in solidarity with the officials who were denied entry, according to Reuters.

The FIFA-versus-immigration tension doesn’t end with Canada.

Iran’s own preparations are already complicated by how FIFA scheduled its World Cup matches. Iran previously asked FIFA to change its schedule so it would not have to play matches in the United States after President Donald Trump ordered strikes beginning Feb. 28. FIFA denied that request. and all three of Iran’s group stage matches are slated to take place in the United States.

Iran is also among 39 countries—one of four participating in the World Cup—currently subject to the Trump administration’s most recent travel ban. In March. Trump said Iranian players and athletes from other participating countries would be given waivers to travel to the U.S. while cautioning Iranian athletes against going.

Trump wrote on Truth Social: “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

Whether that welcome translates into a full delegation arriving intact is where the uncertainty grows.

As of December, seven players on Iran’s roster—including captain Mehdi Taremi—served in the IRGC as part of their mandatory military service. Iranian soccer officials said they’d have replacements if those players were denied entry.

U.S. officials have also tried to draw the line between athletes and the broader party traveling with them.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated last week that Iranian players would be allowed in the country. but members of the team’s support staff may be denied entry like officials were in Canada. Rubio said: “The problem with Iran would be not their athletes. ” adding that it would be “some of the other people they would want to bring with them. some of whom have ties to the IRGC.” He continued: “We may not be able to let them in. but not the athletes themselves.”.

Trump echoed Rubio’s stance after Infantino’s comments, telling reporters: “Well if Gianni said it, I’m okay. You know what? Let them play.”

At this stage, both Canadian and U.S. officials said they would review visa applications for delegation members and necessary support staff on a case-by-case basis.

That last phrase—“necessary”—is where the practical problem sits. The definition of “necessary support staff” is left fairly vague, and it could narrow who travels with players from Iran, Haiti, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal—countries currently under the U.S. travel ban.

The proclamations generally describe support staff such as medical doctors, physical therapists, equipment managers, communications staff, security and nutritionists. But the exemptions for the World Cup do not spell out exactly which categories of support staff are guaranteed entry. The secretary of state’s office has the final say on who can enter and who will be denied when the tournament arrives.

The proclamations also allow for players’ immediate family members to travel, but they do not specify details such as whether that includes siblings or adult children.

Even for nations not caught in the travel ban net, there are other roadblocks.

Another barrier affecting multiple World Cup participants is the “Visa Bond Pilot Program.” It applies to 50 countries, and five of those—Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Tunisia—qualified for the World Cup.

Under the program, travelers from those countries on business or tourist visas—B-1 or B-2 visas—must hand over up to $15,000 in bond payments before entering the U.S. Program documents say there’s no language spelling out a clear pathway for exceptions for athletes playing in the summer.

The program also leaves decisions to consular staff, stating: “Consular officers will determine whether a waiver would advance a significant national interest or humanitarian interest based on the applicant’s purpose of travel and employment.”

For countries with smaller soccer budgets, $15,000 per person is a major burden even if the money would be returned after the team leaves the U.S.

FIFA is also working with the State Department, according to The Athletic, to ensure countries playing in matches in two countries—like Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Tunisia—would be guaranteed multiple-entry visas so they can travel between the U.S., Canada and Mexico during the tournament.

Côte d’Ivoire is a prime candidate for multiple-entry visas. It plays its first and third games in the U.S., with its second game in Canada. If it were limited to single-entry visas, players could be stuck in Toronto between matches.

Senegal’s situation is more complicated. Its final group stage game is in Canada. and the State Department might hesitate to grant multiple-entry visas if there is no scheduled U.S. match after that—unless Senegal reaches the knockout round. The U.S. is hosting 26 of 31 knockout matches, meaning multiple-entry access could become critical if Senegal’s path extends.

World Cup matches are scheduled to begin June 11 in Mexico City.

So when Infantino says Iran will play. the question isn’t whether Iran is on FIFA’s list—it’s whether the people needed to make the tournament work will clear the same hurdles that already stopped Iranian Football Federation officials from crossing into Canada. The pitch may be guaranteed in theory. but for delegations traveling across borders. the tournament starts long before the first whistle.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Iran Gianni Infantino Mehdi Taj IRGC Canada visa denial Lena Diab Taous Ait Marco Rubio Donald Trump U.S. travel ban Mehdi Taremi