News Focus
- Iran’s squad shifts training camp from Arizona to Tijuana due to strict US entry restrictions
- Washington blocks visas for 15 officials, including the football federation president and his deputy
- Players face tight travel rules, allowing entry to the US only on the day of each match
- American authorities accuse Tehran of attempting to smuggle personnel linked to the Revolutionary Guards
- Tehran demands FIFA intervention, labelling the visa bans as political interference in sport
Iran’s national football team has established a base in Mexico after failing to secure long-term entry papers for the United States. The squad touched down in Tijuana early on Sunday morning, marking the end of their preparations on Mexican soil rather than American territory.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off on 11 June across three host nations. Iran’s opening fixture against New Zealand takes place in Los Angeles on 15 June, followed by clashes with Belgium in California and Egypt in Seattle. However, the team cannot remain in America between these fixtures. They must return to Mexico after each game.
The dispute centres on Washington’s refusal to grant visas to fifteen members of the Iranian delegation. The rejected group includes the football federation chief, his deputy, and the team’s media director. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims Iranian authorities tried to exploit the tournament to bring in individuals with connections to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Several players in the Iranian squad have previously completed mandatory military service with this branch of the armed forces. American officials stated they would not permit Tehran to abuse the visa system to sneak terror suspects into the country under false pretences.
The Iranian embassy in Turkey has strongly rejected these accusations. In a formal statement, officials described the visa denials as the worst form of political meddling in football. They have called upon FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, to step in and resolve the matter before the tournament begins.
This competition marks a historic first. It is the only time a World Cup host nation has welcomed a team from a country it is actively attacking. The United States and Israel began military strikes against Iran recently, creating an unprecedented diplomatic backdrop for the sporting event.
The Iranian side originally planned to train in Tucson, Arizona. They relocated to Tijuana in late May when it became clear that diplomatic tensions would restrict their movement. American authorities eventually issued travel documents to the players and essential support staff last Friday, just ten days before their first match.