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Iran’s World Cup squad has departed Turkey for Mexico ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup during a growing diplomatic dispute with the United States over visa restrictions affecting some members of its support staff.
The team left Antalya, Turkey, on Saturday and is expected to be based in Tijuana, Mexico, throughout the tournament. The move comes just days before the World Cup kicks off on Thursday in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
According to Iranian state television, the squad departed around 6:10 pm local time on a journey expected to last about 20 hours. The controversy erupted after Iran accused the United States of refusing visas to several members of its administrative and management staff. Iranian officials said 15 support personnel were affected by the decision.
On Friday, US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack confirmed that players had received their visas to enter the US. However, Iran’s embassy in Turkey condemned the visa restrictions on support staff, describing them as discriminatory.
“You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level,” the embassy said in a statement, while urging FIFA to hold the United States accountable.
Adding to the confusion, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, claimed the team had been informed that players will only be allowed to enter and leave the United States on the same day as their matches.
“We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” Pasandideh told reporters.
However, Iran team spokesman Amir Mahdi Alavi gave a different account, saying the squad had received multiple-entry visas.
“The visas issued for the national team are multiple-entry visas, and the national team will arrive at the match venue one day before the first game and, for the following games, two days prior to each match,” Alavi said.
Iran’s Football Federation has described the visa issue as “political interference in sport in its worst form.” In response, a US administration official insisted that all necessary visas for athletes and essential support staff had been issued.
“We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses,” the official said.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of strained relations between Tehran and Washington following months of conflict and political tension. Iran, known as Team Melli, will compete in Group G and is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Ahead of the tournament, Iran completed its preparations with friendly victories over Mali and Gambia during its training camp in Turkey.
