ANTALYA, Turkey — Iran’s national soccer squad departed from Turkey on Saturday, heading to their Mexican training facility before competing in three World Cup group stage matches on American soil later this month.
Iranian state television reported that several Iranian Football Federation members who were scheduled to travel with the team have not yet obtained entry visas for the United States.
The television broadcast indicated that federation secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini and vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi were part of a group of 14 support personnel and administrators still lacking US visas before matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Whether federation president Mehdi Taj received visa approval remained uncertain.
The squad’s World Cup involvement has faced challenges due to Iran’s conflict with Israel and the United States. Visa processing difficulties previously forced Iran to relocate their training facility from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana on Mexico’s California border.
The federation criticized the US for “vindictive behavior” in denying visas to “key managerial and administrative members” of the squad.
This action has “effectively denied the Iranian national team the opportunity for a level playing field and a competition free from discrimination,” according to a statement carried by Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim and Mehr news agencies. The federation announced plans to address the issue through FIFA, soccer’s global governing body.
A US official previously informed The Associated Press that Iranian team players received visa clearance, while another official confirmed visas were granted to players, coaching staff, trainers and certain support personnel. A third official indicated some team-affiliated applicants were denied for seeking visas “under false pretenses.”
These officials requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to publicly discuss visa matters.
The team has been training at a facility in Antalya, Turkey, for World Cup preparation. The squad confirmed receiving visas from Mexico’s Embassy in Ankara.
Iran faces New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California, for their opening match, followed by Belgium six days afterward, before traveling to Seattle to meet Egypt on June 26. Iran and the US could potentially clash in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, should both teams finish second in their respective groups.
President Donald Trump discouraged Iran’s tournament participation in March, stating he found it inappropriate and expressing concerns about players’ “life and safety.” Iran’s national team responded the following day, declaring “no one can exclude” them from competition.
Iran announced their final roster Monday, featuring 17 domestic-based players whose clubs haven’t competed since February due to the ongoing war. Star striker Sardar Azmoun was removed in March, reportedly over a social media post that upset Iranian authorities during the conflict.
Iran’s sports minister stated in March that team participation would “not be possible,” but the soccer federation announced in May they would proceed with a squad. The federation demanded visa approval for all players and staff, including those with military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
