Iran football team still waiting for US visas as World Cup approaches

Published May 29, 2026 Updated May 29, 2026 08:26am

The Iranian ambassador to Mexico says Iran’s football team are still waiting for US visas to be approved and claims that Iran is not competing in the World Cup on “equal terms,” Reuters reports.

Ambassador Abolfazl Pasandideh made the comments while visiting the northwestern Mexican border city of Tijuana, where Iranian players have relocated their training camp.

They originally planned to be based in Tucson, Arizona, in the US.

Iranian football players pose for a group photo in March 2026. —Reuters
Iranian football players pose for a group photo in March 2026. —Reuters

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