Iran and Fans Face Visa Barriers and War Ahead of World Cup

When Iran qualified for the World Cup in March last year, the men's national team did not expect their participation to hinge on the host nation, the US, granting last-minute visas — if at all. Iranian fans eager to support the team also did not anticipate being barred from entering the US, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June last year suspending visas for several countries, including Iran, which the US considers a “state sponsor of terrorism.”

The most shocking development for Iranians is that the host of the world's biggest sporting event launched a war against their country just months before the tournament begins. For Coach Amir Ghalenoei's team, the joint US-Israel war is not merely an obstacle to World Cup preparations; it is tangible and personal, as thousands across the country have been killed in missile attacks. Azadi Stadium, where local and national team matches are held, was bombed by the US. The men's team carried small backpacks in memory of students killed in a US attack on a school in Minab on the war's first day.

After months of political wrangling between the US and Iran — leading to a base relocation to Mexico — the men's national football team will play under the shadow of war, and only if the US issues visas in time. For Iranian fans, traveling to the US is “virtually impossible” even without visa and war challenges. There is no direct transport between the two countries, which lack formal diplomatic relations. An anonymous fan named Ali said: “Besides visa issues, you have to take two or three flights from Tehran to reach the US. Returning to Iran from the US is also a major challenge, with the risk of arrest by the Iranian government.” The war has intensified surveillance against nationalist sentiment within the country, leading to executions of those detained on charges of spying for Israel or the US.

Political repercussions have also spilled into sports. Iran's top player, Sardar Azmoun, was kicked off the national team in March for allegedly disloyal acts toward the government, after he posted a photo on social media of his meeting with Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. UAE-Iran relations have been strained during the war, with Iran attacking the Emirates multiple times and accusing the UAE of allowing the US to use its territory for attacks on Iran.

The US war against Iran, now nearly 100 days old, has also discouraged global fans from attending the World Cup. South African football fan Byron Pillay told Al Jazeera: “Football is called the beautiful game because of its ability to unite people, but it's hard to believe in that magic when there is politics and war rhetoric off the pitch, especially when one of the tournament hosts is at the center of it.” Another South African, Riaz Hamed, expressed similar reservations: “Given the US stance, particularly how they treat fans and immigrants, I don't believe it's entirely safe to attend.”

Fears have been heightened by reports from organizations like Human Rights Watch, noting that an asylum seeker who attended last year's Club World Cup final in New Jersey with his children was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported. International sports lawyer Khayran Noor from Kenya emphasized that sports cannot be separated from broader geopolitical realities: “If participation can be shaped by geopolitical realities outside the game, does that undermine the ideals of inclusion these tournaments claim to represent? Football is global, but global mobility is not; the World Cup sits at the intersection of that contradiction.”

Rising visa rejection rates also make fans wary. The US has implemented the FIFA PASS system to speed up visa interviews for fans who bought tickets via FIFA, but it does not guarantee visa issuance. Last month, a group of nearly 150 Ghanaian football fans had their visa applications rejected. Godwin Nii Armah, 32, canceled his World Cup plans for personal reasons but knows he could have shared the same fate. He noted that traveling to Toronto, Boston, and Philadelphia to support the Black Stars is an expensive logistical challenge beyond international airfare and visa fees. Ghanaians pay $185 for a US visa application and $100 Canadian (about $71) for a Canadian visa, totaling roughly the monthly average income in Ghana.

Noor questioned whether future World Cup hosting agreements should include obligations regarding access and mobility before awarding hosting rights. She acknowledged that nations are sovereign in border control and national security, but global sports events often require special frameworks. Fans from 27 of the 48 World Cup-participating nations need US visas, costing between $185 and $435 — an amount a person in many Global South countries must earn over several months. Canada is slightly easier, while Mexico is the most accessible host.

That is why South Africa chose to send a small group of supporters to Pachuca, Mexico, where the national team is based and plays two group-stage matches. Sahil Ebrahim was one of the “lucky few” in the delegation. After decades of supporting Bafana Bafana via TV in Cape Town, Ebrahim attended the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Now the 40-year-old is heading to his second World Cup, where he will watch the opening match live in Mexico City when South Africa faces the hosts on June 11. Unlike the South African team, which suffered a 24-hour delay due to a federation visa error, Ebrahim said the sports ministry “did a great job” expediting visas with the Mexican embassy. However, he admitted the process cannot compare to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the Hayya card centralized all visa, ticket, and transport information for each fan.

“Ultimately, major sports events succeed not just because people watch them, but because people participate in them,” Noor said. “The question isn't who can watch the World Cup — the question is who can actually participate in it.”