JAKARTA – A United States (US) official confirmed to ABC News on Friday, June 5, 2026, local time, that the players of the Iranian National Team (National Team) had received visas that allowed them to enter and compete in the United States for the 2026 World Cup.
Iran applied for their visas at the US Embassy in Turkey, where they have been preparing for the 2026 World Cup with a training camp in Antalya.
The US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrac, apparently confirmed the approval of the visa on Friday in a social media post.
“Proud of our incredible team at the US Embassy in Ankara for their work in processing visas for the Iranian national team on their way to the 2026 World Cup in the United States.”
“Sport transcends borders. We hope to welcome competitors and fans from around the world,” he said.
An American official told the Associated Press that visas had been issued for players, coaches, instructors, and some support staff.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the visas publicly.
The official could not say whether any Iranian applicants were turned away. It was also unclear when the passports would be returned so that the Iranian team could travel, but the official said it could happen as early as Friday or Saturday.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday, June 2, 2021, that the Iranian delegation would be closely monitored for anyone with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
“We have no problem with the athletes, as we have stated before, or their support staff. However, what we will not allow is that they include a number of people in their delegation who we know have nothing to do with the athletes and have ties to the IRGC or such things.”
“So, we’ll be watching that very closely. We’ll continue to watch that very closely, but in general, I don’t anticipate that being an issue with other countries,” Rubio said during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing.
Iran will play two 2026 World Cup group stage matches in Inglewood, California – against New Zealand on June 15, 2026 and against Belgium six days later. Iran’s third match will take place on June 26, 2026 when they face Egypt in Seattle.
Iran’s training base, which was initially set up in Tucson, Arizona, was eventually moved to Tijuana, Mexico, at the request of the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) due to security concerns.
Tijuana is a Mexican region bordering California. The relocation of the Iranian training base is also a strict rule set by the United States.
Iran can only enter the United States on June 14, 2026, one day before their first match against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Rams Stadium, Inglewood.
Iran received visas to Mexico earlier this week and is scheduled to depart later this weekend.
Iran’s participation in the 2026 World Cup has been in doubt for a long time. Since the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran in late February 2026, hostilities have continued.
Despite reports about a possible peace proposal, FIFA has long insisted that Iran will fully participate in the tournament.
US President Donald Trump in March 2026 had prevented Iran from participating in the tournament, saying he did not consider it appropriate and raised concerns about the lives and safety of the players.
A day later, the Iranian national team refused, saying no one could exclude them from playing in the 2026 World Cup.
Iran finalized their squad on Monday, June 1, 2026, including 17 home-based players whose clubs have not played since February 2026 due to the war.
The visa issue is very strange for the Iranian team. In April 2026, the visa of FFIRI President Mehdi Taj to enter Canada was canceled due to his previous affiliation with the IRGC, which has been classified as a terrorist organization by Canada and the US.
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