Iran has accused the United States of blocking visas for several key members of its national football team’s backroom staff, despite approving travel documents for players ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The accusation came hours after US authorities confirmed that Iranian players and what they described as “necessary support staff” had been granted visas to participate in the tournament, which begins on June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In a statement issued through its embassy in Turkey, Iran condemned the decision, describing it as politically motivated interference in sports.
The embassy alleged that a significant number of the team’s managerial and executive officials, as well as technical advisers, were denied entry into the United States.
Iranian officials described the US explanation as an attempt to “whitewash” the situation, accusing Washington of discriminatory treatment against the country’s national team.
They also called on FIFA to intervene, arguing that the restrictions could affect the team’s preparations and participation in the competition.
According to Iranian state-linked media, those denied visas include the president of the country’s football federation and his deputy.
The US government, however, maintained that while players and essential personnel had been cleared to travel, it would not allow Iran to use the process to admit individuals it considered security risks.
Earlier in the week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that members of the Iranian delegation with links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would not be granted entry into the country.
The issue has added a political dimension to Iran’s participation in the tournament, which marks the first World Cup where a host nation will welcome a team from a country with which it is actively engaged in military conflict.
Iran secured qualification for the World Cup in March 2025 after topping its qualifying group.
The team recently moved its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Mexico as preparations intensify ahead of its opening match against Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15.
Iran is also scheduled to face Egypt in Seattle in its remaining group-stage fixtures.
