Iran World – Iran’s World Cup team has been granted U.S. visas, allowing players and staff to enter the United States from their training base in Tijuana ahead of matches near Los Angeles. The decision follows visa processing trouble linked to tensions between Iran, Israel
WASHINGTON — On a Friday afternoon, the delay that had hung over Iran’s World Cup plans appeared to finally lift: members of Iran’s World Cup soccer team were granted visas to enter the United States, two U.S. officials said.
The clearances mean the squad can move from its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, into the U.S. ahead of its first two matches near Los Angeles this month. Iran’s path to the tournament has been tightly knotted with the war between Iran and Israel—and the conflict’s fallout with the United States—making something as basic as visa processing feel like the deciding hurdle.
One U.S. official said all players on the Iranian team were approved for visas and were in the process of receiving them. A second official said visas had been issued for players, coaches, trainers and some support staff. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the visas publicly.
The second official would not say whether any Iranian applicants had been denied. It also was not immediately clear when the Iranian team’s passports would be returned, but the official said it could be as early as Friday or Saturday.
The team has been preparing for the World Cup at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, before departing for Tijuana. Iran said it had already received visas from Mexico’s embassy in Ankara.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack credited the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for processing visas for the Iranian team, writing on social media Friday: “Sports transcends borders, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world.”
Iran’s first match is scheduled in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15. Six days later, Iran plays Belgium in the same area, before traveling to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26.
If both teams finish second in their groups, Iran and the U.S. could meet in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas.
The visa shake-up has been shaped by politics as much as paperwork. President Donald Trump had discouraged Iran from participating in the tournament in March. saying he didn’t think it was “appropriate” and raising concerns over players’ “life and safety.” A day later. Iran’s national team pushed back. saying “no one can exclude” it from playing.
Iran’s preparation has also reflected the wider disruption caused by the war. Visa problems previously led Iran to move its training base from Tucson. Arizona. to Tijuana. on Mexico’s border with California. Iran finalized its team on Monday, including 17 home-based players whose clubs have not played since February because of the war.
Star forward Sardar Azmoun was dropped in March. reportedly because of a social media post that angered Iranian authorities during the war. Iran’s sports minister said in March that it would “not be possible” for the team to participate. but Iran’s soccer federation said in May that it was moving ahead with a team. The federation had insisted that all players and staff be granted visas. including those who had military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
For now, the United States has cleared the most urgent step: getting Iran’s team into the country in time to begin play.
Iran World Cup team U.S. visas Tijuana training base Inglewood New Zealand Belgium June 21 Seattle Egypt June 26 Arlington round of 32 July 3 Tom Barrack