Sunday Ehigiator
Iran has accused the United States of subjecting its national football team to “discriminatory treatment” after several members of its World Cup delegation were reportedly denied entry visas ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The protest followed confirmation by U.S. authorities that visas had been granted to Iranian players, enabling them to participate in the tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Tehran, however, said a significant number of administrative and support personnel had been excluded from the approval process.
In a statement posted on X, Iran’s embassy in Turkey criticised Washington for failing to disclose that visas had been refused for “a large portion of the managerial and executive staff, technical advisers, and others who are an integral part of any national football team.”
The embassy described the move as “deliberate and discriminatory treatment” against Iran’s national team, arguing that the decision undermined the country’s participation in the global sporting event.
Iranian state television reported that 15 members of the delegation’s administrative and management staff had been denied visas. Reports also indicated that several senior officials of the Iranian Football Federation were among those still awaiting approval.
The visa dispute comes amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington, which have complicated Iran’s preparations for the tournament. Iran recently shifted its World Cup training base from the United States to Tijuana, Mexico, citing visa uncertainties and broader political concerns.
Despite the controversy, U.S. officials maintained that Iranian players, coaches and essential support staff had received the necessary documentation to enter the country for World Cup matches. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also indicated that individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would not be granted entry visas.
Iran is scheduled to open its World Cup campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in California, before facing Belgium and Egypt in subsequent group-stage matches.
