Iran’s national football federation announces that the team will travel to the United States on a charter flight one day before its first 2026 World Cup group-stage match. The federation says the players have obtained visas required to enter the United States and to play in group matches scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle. However, not all members of Iran’s wider delegation have received visas, according to multiple reports. The issue is reported to have arisen just days before the tournament begins on Thursday, with the 2026 World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The reports also note the broader diplomatic context, referencing that the United States and Iran are in open military conflict. Iranian federation spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi is quoted as explaining the travel plan in line with FIFA’s programme, while the visa status of some delegation members remains unresolved.