Iran Protests as U.S. Issues World Cup Visas Only to Players, Denies Entry to 12 Key Staff Members

Staff Likely to Reapply for Visas After Moving to Mexico

Iran has strongly protested the United States' decision to issue entry visas only to the Iranian national football team players participating in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, excluding the staff.

Associated Press Yonhap News

According to local media, including Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency, on June 6, a total of 12 key personnel involved in the management of the Iranian national football team—including the secretary general of the Iranian Football Federation, the team leader, and the media officer—were denied visas by the U.S. government.

Previously, foreign media reported the day before that the United States had issued entry visas to the Iranian national team players.

The Iranian Embassy in Turkiye, through its official account on X (formerly Twitter), strongly condemned the U.S. government's actions, stating, "The United States has elevated its intentional and discriminatory treatment against the Iranian national football team to the highest level." The embassy also questioned, "Why is it not being disclosed that visas have been denied to a significant number of essential management and administrative staff, as well as technical advisors, who are crucial to the team's operations?"

In response, Iran has decided that some staff members who were denied visas will take alternative measures, such as traveling to Mexico to reapply for their visas. According to Tasnim News Agency, these individuals departed Turkiye on June 6, where they had been conducting training camps and friendly matches with the national team, and are heading to Tijuana, Mexico, near the U.S. border. There, they plan to reapply for U.S. visas and attempt to enter the United States again.

Placed in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand for the North and Central America World Cup group stage, Iran will play all three of its group matches in Inglewood, near Los Angeles (LA), and in Seattle, United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.