Iran’s national football team is preparing for the 2026 World Cup while facing uncertainty over travel visas to the United States for its group matches. Multiple reports say the squad has been in Turkey for a pre-World Cup training camp and related arrangements, including friendlies, and some members of the entourage and officials have still been awaiting U.S. visas. According to accounts including Bloomberg, Iran’s players and staff have sought travel authorisations for the United States and Canada, with visa applications reportedly submitted through the process in Turkey and at the U.S. embassy in Ankara.
The team’s next step is travel from Turkey to its training base in Mexico, ahead of playing its three group games in the United States. Reports describe the squad’s movement between Turkish locations during this period: arriving for camp preparations, pausing training at times to pursue visas, and submitting applications before continuing preparations. While outlets consistently describe visa hurdles as ongoing for some personnel, they also agree the team is proceeding with its scheduled preparations and travel plans.
