Iran face major World Cup 2026 disruption

Iran hit by visa issues before tournament

World Cup 2026 Today at 12:09

Khaled Hegazy

News Editor

Iran face major World Cup 2026 disruption

15.06.26 21:00 World Cup

Iran

New Zealand

Iran face major disruption before World Cup 2026 after multiple visa rejections threaten squad preparations in the USA.

Visa rejections hit Iran delegation

According to Iranian FA officials, 14 visa applications linked to the national team delegation have been rejected including that of vice president Mahdi Mohammadnabi.

Nabi confirmed that discussions are ongoing with FIFA to resolve the issue before the team’s opening match.

Speaking to ESPN, he stressed that a national team extends beyond players and coaches.

“The team is not just players and coaches, it includes technical and administrative staff. We are all one unit” Nabi said.

He added that Iran hopes for a quick resolution insisting that sport should remain free from discrimination and that all teams must be treated equally.

🚨🇮🇷 Irán denuncia que la FIFA le retiró las entradas del Mundial 2026A solo días del inicio del torneo, la Federación Iraní de Fútbol (FFIRI) informó oficialmente que la FIFA canceló de forma repentina la asignación de boletos que le correspondía a sus aficionados para los tres… pic.twitter.com/9r28klfgqF
— Enséñame de Ciencia (@EnsedeCiencia) June 10, 2026

Political tension behind the crisis

The situation comes amid heightened political tensions between Iran and the United States, one of the main World Cup hosts.

Reports from Associated Press indicated that while visas were granted to players and coaching staff, several applications linked to other delegation members were denied.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Iranian delegations would be subject to strict monitoring. He clarified that there are no issues with athletes themselves but emphasized concerns over individuals potentially linked to non-sporting organizations.

Confusion over travel restrictions

Further confusion emerged after claims that Iran’s team would be required to enter and leave the United States on the same day as their matches.

However, an Iranian FA spokesperson denied those reports in statements to ESPN, suggesting that discussions are still ongoing and no final travel restrictions have been imposed.