Iran Qualifies for 2026 World Cup; U.S. Denies Visas to IRGC-Linked Staff

U.S. visas that will allow them to enter and compete in the United States for the 2026 World Cup. The approvals were issued overnight, according to the White House.

Iran’s opening match is against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles. The team will also face Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle. U.S. official confirmed to ABC News on Friday that the players have received visas. The squad is scheduled to land in Tijuana early on Sunday after Iran negotiated a last-minute change of its team base from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei will lead the side at the tournament. U.S. Embassy has so far refused to issue visas to some members of the national team’s technical and executive staff. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that the United States would not allow Iran to include individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its World Cup delegation.

Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation and a former Revolutionary Guards commander, was denied entry for the tournament draw in Washington in December. U.S. has never formally stated it does not want the Iranian team to stay on its territory.

Speaking through a Spanish interpreter at the Iranian embassy in Mexico City, Pasandideh added that Iran’s participation in the World Cup shows that Iran seeks peace. Iran’s football federation has not yet issued a statement on the visa grants.