Iran's World Cup team given state farewell in Tehran
Iran's national team was feted at a ceremony in Tehran on 13 or 14 May 2026 featuring the unveiling of its 2026 World Cup kit, but no US visas have been issued for players or staff less than a month before the tournament. Federation chief Mehdi Taj called it the best send-off in four World Cups even as he announced a decisive meeting with FIFA.
EuronewsIran's national football team was feted at a public farewell ceremony in Tehran, according to Euronews and Al Jazeera reporting on events covered on or around 14 May 2026. Large crowds gathered, preventing players from leaving their team buses at first. The Iranian national team's official 2026 World Cup kit was unveiled at the ceremony.
Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's football federation, told state-run television IRIB that "This is the best farewell ceremony in the last four World Cups." Taj claimed at the ceremony that Iranian-American singer Nasrollah Moein had agreed to record an anthem for the national team. Moein denied the claim within hours, describing it as a rumour on his Instagram page.
Players took to the stage to speak of "patriotism." Heydat Mombini said on the sidelines of the ceremony "We have not yet received anything regarding the visas." Taj said on 14 May 2026 "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we will have a decisive meeting with FIFA." He stated "We have not received any account from the other side regarding who has been granted visas."
No US visas have yet been issued for Iran's players or coaching staff as of 14 May 2026. The players were expected to travel to the Turkish capital Ankara for fingerprinting as part of the US visa process. Taj said the federation is trying to arrange for fingerprinting to be done in Antalya so there will be no need to travel to Ankara.
All three of Iran's group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup are scheduled to be played in the United States. The Iranian national team will be based in Tucson, Arizona during the tournament. Iran opens its 2026 World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June 2026. Iran will play Belgium and Egypt in Group G.
The Iranian national team will travel to Turkey next week after 14 May 2026 for a training camp. The team is scheduled to play a warm-up match against Gambia in Antalya on 29 May 2026. Mehdi Taj was denied entry to Canada two weeks before 14 May 2026 when attempting to attend the FIFA Congress in Vancouver.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said people linked to the IRGC would not be permitted to enter the United States. The Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are designated a terrorist organisation in both Canada and the US. Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic relations since 1980.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
6 events- 2026-05-14
Mehdi Taj states no visas issued yet and schedules decisive FIFA meeting for tomorrow or day after
2 sourcesIRNA · Al Jazeera - 2026-05-13 or 2026-05-14
State farewell ceremony held in Tehran with kit unveiling, chants, flags and large crowds
2 sourcesEuronews · Al Jazeera - 2026-05-14
Nasrollah Moein denies Mehdi Taj's claim about recording anthem
1 sourceNasrollah Moein via Euronews - 2026-04-30 approx
Mehdi Taj denied entry to Canada for FIFA Congress in Vancouver
1 sourceEuronews - 2026-04-08
Fragile ceasefire begins after Iran war
2 sourcesAl Jazeera - 2026-02-28
US and Israel launch attacks on Iran starting the war
1 sourceAl Jazeera
Potential Impact
- 01
Visa resolution required within weeks or risk missing group-stage matches in the United States
- 02
FIFA assurances and planned meeting with federation may determine whether Iran can participate
- 03
Disrupted training and cancelled fixtures due to February war could affect team performance at tournament
Transparency Panel
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