Iran accuses US of denying visas to 15 World Cup delegation members, calls for FIFA action
Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, has accused the United States of denying visas to 15 members of Iran's World Cup delegation and called on FIFA to intervene ahead of the 2026 tournament.
Speaking at a press conference in Tijuana, Pasandideh said most of those affected were senior officials and technical staff from the Iranian Football Federation.
“There are 15 people and most are team managers, part of the technical staff as well,” he said. “If they do not show up, it will be a challenge for our team.”
Despite the setback, the ambassador said Iran remained determined to participate in the tournament and would continue efforts to secure the necessary travel documents.
Pasandideh described the World Cup as an opportunity to showcase Iranian talent and promote international understanding through sport.
“The presence of the Iranian national football team in the World Cup is an opportunity to showcase the sporting capabilities of Iranian youth and, at the same time, strengthen friendship and understanding between peoples,” he said.
He stressed that sporting events should remain separate from political disputes. “We believe that sports should be a bridge to bring people together and not a tool to impose restrictions or exclusions. Sports should unite nations, not separate them,” he added.
The ambassador called on FIFA to engage with the relevant authorities to ensure the full participation of Iran's delegation in matches scheduled in Los Angeles and Seattle.
The visa dispute comes on the back of ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington and could complicate preparations for Iran's opening World Cup match against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
