‘Worst form of political interference’: Iran blasts US over visa denial for World Cup

Iran’s Football Federation has condemned the United States for denying visas to members of the Iranian national team’s support staff ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling the move a “clear violation of international sports regulations.”

In a Saturday statement, the federation said Washington had continued its “hostile actions” against Iran by refusing visas to key managerial and administrative members of Team Melli despite being one of the hosts of the tournament.

“The US government, in a non-sporting and completely political decision, refused to issue visas for important managerial and administrative members of Iran’s national football team,” the federation said.

It added that the matter would be pursued through FIFA, stressing that the world football body has a responsibility to ensure the issuance of visas for Iran’s “managerial, executive, technical and support staff” who are currently with the team in camp and are “urgently needed” by the squad.

The federation said that the United States is creating “a discriminatory and unequal environment” through “targeted behavior” against the Iranian team.

“This means interference of politics in sports in the worst possible way,” the statement said.

The federation further said Washington is seeking to deprive Iran of equal conditions and the right to compete without discrimination by preventing senior team officials from standing alongside players and coaches during the World Cup.

According to Iranian media reports and information previously published by The New York Times, visas were issued to all 26 Iranian players, but several support staff and federation officials were denied entry into the United States.

Those reportedly denied visas include team manager Mehdi Mohammadnabi, Football Federation Secretary General Hedayat Mombeini, executive manager Mehdi Kharrati, media manager Mohsen Motamedkia, and several members of the media, analysis, foreign affairs and international relations teams.

Reports also indicate that Mehdi Taj, head of Iran’s Football Federation, was among those denied entry.

The visa restrictions and security fears have forced Iran to relocate its World Cup base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, in order to minimize time spent inside the United States. Some reports also say the Iranian team will fly into the US only on match days, meaning players and staff could face immigration procedures just hours before kickoff.

Iran is scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in the United States, beginning against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. The team will later face Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle.

The controversy has unfolded only months after the joint US-Israeli aggression against Iran, which disrupted the country’s domestic football competitions and forced the national team to continue preparations under difficult conditions in Iran, Turkey and Mexico.

Iranian officials have repeatedly insisted that host nations are obligated to guarantee equal treatment for all qualified teams under FIFA’s principles of fair play.

“We have qualified for the World Cup, and the best facilities must be provided to us,” Taj said earlier this week. “All countries need to have equal opportunities.”

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