Iran’s national football team is cleared to enter the United States for the 2026 World Cup after U.S. authorities grant visas to the players, officials say. Multiple outlets report that the White House and other U.S. officials confirm visa approval for the squad ahead of the team’s opening match. Iran’s first games are scheduled in the Los Angeles area, with matches against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, with the squad later playing Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
While player visas are approved, several sources add that some federation officials and support staff have not yet received visas or are still waiting for clearance. Euronews and The Independent say staff clearance is pending even as the players are cleared. Other reporting, including from the UK outlet The Canary, says Iran’s federation claims the U.S. denies visas to some officials and describes it as retaliatory conduct, while U.S. officials cite security concerns tied to the visa process. Overall, the situation involves a split between the approved players and ongoing visa decisions for some team staff close to the tournament start.
