Iran's national football team departed for Mexico on Saturday, June 6, 2026 [1], to establish a base before playing three group-stage matches in the U.S. [2].
The move highlights the intersection of global sports and geopolitics, as diplomatic friction between Tehran and Washington threatens the logistics of the World Cup.
U.S. officials have indicated that the players are approved to enter the country, but restrictions remain for support personnel. Marco Rubio said Washington had "no problem" with the Iranian team entering the country but would not let officials or staff members with ties to the Revolutionary Guard accompany it [3].
Despite these approvals for players, some officials maintain that the process remains incomplete. The Iranian ambassador to Mexico said Iran's squad still has not received their U.S. visas [4]. This uncertainty persisted just 10 days before the team's first match, which is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles [5].
To manage the visa process, some members of the delegation sought processing in other regions. Four players and one staff member began the U.S. visa process in Ankara [6].
The team will now operate from the Mexico City area to avoid the immediate complications of the visa row while preparing for their tournament debut. This relocation ensures the squad can train and maintain a stable environment before traveling across the border for their scheduled fixtures [7].
“Iran's squad still has not received their U.S. visas.”
The decision to base the team in Mexico serves as a diplomatic workaround, allowing the athletes to compete while the U.S. maintains security screenings on personnel linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This separation of the sporting squad from its political and military-linked support staff reflects a broader U.S. strategy to isolate Iranian state institutions without violating international sporting obligations.
