White House Confirms US Visas Issued for Iranian National Team Ahead of World Cup

Iran's national football team players have been granted US entry visas, a White House official confirmed, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles amid heightened tensions between the two nations.

Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said late Thursday that the team had not yet received US visas, but according to the White House official, the visas were issued overnight.

US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack confirmed the visa approval in a post on social media platform X on Friday. He wrote: “Proud of our outstanding team at the US Embassy in Ankara for processing visas for the Iran national football team on their way to the FIFA World Cup in the United States.”

However, Iran's semi-official news agency Fars reported Friday that the US has not yet granted visas to some coaching staff and technical personnel of the Iranian team. Fars cited sources saying that “visas for some members of the coaching staff and executive personnel of the national team have not been issued, and the US Embassy has refused to grant them.” The Iranian Football Federation has not made an official comment.

The US-Israel conflict with Iran has turned the World Cup – the world's largest global sporting event – into a geopolitical arena, with both sides seemingly using the tournament to make political statements. This marks the first time in World Cup history since 1930 that a host nation has welcomed a country with which it is at war.

Tehran conducted last-minute negotiations to move the team's base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, due to visa issues and a growing sentiment in Iran that the team's presence on US soil should be minimized. The team is expected to land in Tijuana on Sunday morning.

Iran will play its first match in Group G on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, followed by Belgium, before facing Egypt in Seattle. Ambassador Pasandideh said the US never officially stated it did not want the Iranian team to stay on its territory.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that the US would not allow Iran to include in its World Cup delegation any individuals affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful military branch of Iran. Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj, a former commander in the Revolutionary Guard, was denied entry to attend the World Cup draw in Washington last December.

Ambassador Pasandideh emphasized that Iran's desire to compete in the World Cup reflects Tehran's effort to seek a resolution in the war with Washington. Speaking through a Spanish interpreter at the Iranian Embassy in Mexico City, he said: “Iran's participation in the World Cup – even in a country considered an enemy – shows that Iran seeks peace.”

Progress in peace negotiations between Iran and the US has been slow, with both sides appearing to edge toward a temporary agreement even as they continue military strikes.