The participation of the Iranian national team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now uncertain just 28 days before the tournament is set to begin. Concerns have been raised regarding the team’s visa status, with reports indicating that not a single member has received a US visa.
According to RMC Sport, Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, highlighted the urgency of the situation during a press conference on Thursday. This issue is compounded by the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the absence of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington since 1980.
Taj has announced plans for a crucial meeting with FIFA in the coming days, where he will seek guarantees to resolve the visa issue. Despite FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s assurances that Iran will compete in the US as scheduled, there has been little tangible progress in securing the necessary travel documents.
The Iranian squad is expected to travel to Ankara next Monday for fingerprinting and to commence their pre-tournament training camp.