TEHRAN: Iran’s football federation expects FIFA to facilitate multiple-entry visas for the United States for the Iranian national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, its president said in a video broadcast by Iranian media on Thursday.
“FIFA is expected to deliver a multiple-entry visa so that the players can enter [the United States] and return [to Mexico],” federation president Mehdi Taj said.
Known as “Team Melli”, the Iranian squad had initially planned to base itself in Tucson in Arizona during the tournament, but later moved its training camp to Tijuana in Mexico, which will co-host the World Cup alongside the US and Canada.
Taj previously said the move was intended to avoid complications related to US visas and to allow the squad to travel directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights.
Iran are scheduled to play all three of their Group G matches in the US.
“It is certain now that we will go to Mexico. The team is preparing,” Taj said.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup had been uncertain for months, with a backdrop of the Middle East war triggered by the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran on Feb 28.
The team will open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and Egypt in Seattle later in the group stage.
On Thursday, Taj said he was “not aware of the situation regarding Sardar Azmoun,” referring to Iran’s star striker, who was omitted from the initial squad list drawn up by the team’s manager.
Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals for Iran and previously played for Bayer Leverkusen and AS Roma, had previously voiced support for recent anti-government protests.
He also faced criticism in Iranian state media, including accusations of treason after a photograph published in March showed him alongside the ruler of Dubai, where he currently plays and resides.
On Monday, an Iranian vice president called for Azmoun to be reinstated to the national team.
In a recent Instagram post, Azmoun said he had once rejected “a very large financial offer from another country” and described himself as “a son of Iran”.
NEW BATCH OF TICKETS
FIFA on Thursday released an extra batch of World Cup tickets, just 14 days before the global football tournament kicks off.
“Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last,” said a social media post.
The game’s world governing body had indicated in April that tickets would be released for sale periodically via its official website right up until the final on July 19.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said that more than five million tickets have been sold, out of the approximately seven million expected to be made available.
The previous ticket sales record for a World Cup was 3.5 million, set in 1994 when the tournament was last held in the US.
This time, the US is sharing hosting duties with Canada and Mexico. The 2026 World Cup will be the largest ever, featuring an expanded 48-team format and 104 matches.
Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2026