Iranian footballers will be able to enter the US the day before 2026 World Cup matches, despite previous reports – Reuters
Kyiv • UNN
US authorities have refuted rumors about restricting the Iranian national team's stay to only the match day. Players were issued visas, but some staff members were denied entry.
The Iran national football team will be able to arrive in the USA the day before their matches at the 2026 World Cup. In this way, the American authorities refuted reports that Iranian footballers would allegedly be forced to arrive and leave the country on the day of the game. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that information regarding the restriction of the Iranian team's stay in the country to only the day of the match is untrue.
"These statements are not true. Thanks to the decision of President Donald Trump, the Iranian team will be able to arrive the day before their matches,"
Earlier, Iran's Ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, reported that the team would allegedly be forced to enter the USA and leave the country on the same day the matches take place. However, the diplomat later clarified that the visas issued to the footballers do not contain requirements for immediate departure after the games.
After several weeks of uncertainty, the USA issued visas to all players of the Iran national team last Friday – less than two weeks before the team's opening match at the tournament. At the same time, some members of the delegation did not receive entry permits.
According to the Football Federation of Iran, those denied visas included the team manager, two analysts, the media director, and a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Iranian national team is conducting its preparations in Tijuana, Mexico. In the group stage of the World Cup, the team is scheduled to play against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, as well as against Egypt in Seattle.
As Reuters notes, the Iranian team initially planned to train in Arizona, but these plans were changed following the escalation of the conflict between the USA, Israel, and Iran at the beginning of the year.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated back in March that Iran would be allowed to participate in the World Cup, but expressed doubts about the advisability of a long-term stay for the Iranian national team on U.S. territory for security reasons.