Team Iran arrives in Tijuana for the FIFA World Cup. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Iran’s national football team arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, amid growing tensions with the United States over visa restrictions for Iranian personnel, according to CNN.

The team landed in the northwestern Mexican city, close to the US border, after Iranian officials accused Washington of creating obstacles for the squad’s participation in the tournament.

Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj said the team had been cleared to enter the United States, but only shortly before its matches. “We do not know how far the Americans’ obstructionism will continue,” Taj said, according to Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA). “What the United States is doing reflects malice and a lack of equality among teams.”

A US administration official told CNN that visas required for Iranian players and essential support staff had been issued. However, the official added: “We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses.”

Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Iranian media reported that the squad will be based in Mexico between matches.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the team will travel to the United States on a multiple-entry visa, arriving one day before its opening game and two days before its remaining group-stage fixtures.

Taj criticised the arrangement, calling it “truly strange” and saying Iran would lodge a protest with FIFA. He also expressed concerns over possible difficulties at US airports, linking the issue to broader geopolitical tensions.

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said several members of the delegation, including management staff and media personnel, had yet to receive clearance. “I ask you, what kind of treatment is this? I hope this situation is corrected and that such behavior is not repeated in the future,” he said.

The Iranian Embassy in Ankara also condemned the restrictions, describing them as “the worst possible form of political interference in sport,” according to CNN.

Published on Jun 08, 2026