JAKARTA - The drama leading up to the 2026 World Cup, whose hosts started a war in the Middle East, is not over yet. The US government is reportedly reluctant to issue visas for 14 members of the Iranian national team squad.
The Iranian Football Federation (IFF) has accused the US of "revengeful behavior" by refusing visas for members of the Iranian World Cup management and administrative entourage.
IFF said 14 officials and staff of the Iranian national team squad had their visas denied ahead of upcoming matches in Inglewood, California, and Seattle.
The list of visa refusals includes IFF Vice President Mehdi Mohammad Nabi and IFF Secretary General Hedayat Mombeini.
It is not known whether IFF President Mehdi Taj also received the same treatment from the US Government.
According to the IFF, the visa denial "has effectively eliminated the opportunity for the Iranian national team to compete on an equal footing and free from discrimination."
The Iranian national team, which competed in the 2026 World Cup with the US hosts along with Mexico, received discriminatory treatment. The treatment has been since the massive US-Israeli attack on Tehran on February 28, 2026.
As a result, Iran moved its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. The latter city is right across the US border from San Diego.
Previously, a number of Iranian national team players who competed in the 2026 World Cup experienced visa denial. Only on Friday, June 5, the players got their visas based on confirmation from the Mexican Embassy in Antalya.
When the rejection occurred, the Iranian national team trained in Antalya, Turkey, to prepare for their three World Cup matches in the US.
Iran will play its World Cup matches in Inglewood against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21. The team finishes its five-day group matches in Seattle five days later.
The potential for the US and Iran to face off on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, if both clubs finish second in their respective groups.
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