Iranian Football Players Submit Passports to US Embassy for Visa Approval

Iranian Football Squad to Travel to Mexico for 2026 World Cup

Iran’s national football team will depart from Turkey on Saturday, bound for their home base in Mexico, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The team’s passports have been submitted to the US embassy in Ankara, according to Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian Football Federation.

Taj confirmed that Iran is following FIFA’s instructions regarding visa requirements for the team. The squad will travel from Turkey to Spain before arriving at their base camp in Mexico, where they have received visas.

The team’s participation in the World Cup remains uncertain, with ongoing negotiations between Iran and the US aimed at resolving tensions in the region. Taj stated that the Iranian delegation had raised certain points and requests regarding visa issuance for players, technical staff, and other members of the delegation.

FIFA has informed the Iranian federation that all visas will be issued in full, with no issues expected. The team’s matches are scheduled to take place in the US, with group stage games in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt on June 27 in Seattle.

Source: Al Jazeera