Iran World Cup Team Leaves for Mexico Amid Visa Dispute

The Iranian national football team departed from Turkey to Mexico on Saturday at approximately 6:10 PM local time, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. This departure is overshadowed by a diplomatic row with the United States, which has refused to issue visas to 15 members of the team's support staff.

The Iranian Football Federation has expressed outrage, accusing the U.S. of discriminatory treatment against the team. Iran's ambassador to Mexico stated that the team was informed of the conditions regarding their entry into the U.S. for matches.

The team is scheduled to play three group games on U.S. soil, marking their first World Cup appearance since the host nation received the team. Iranian state TV reported that the team spent nearly three weeks in a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, before their departure.

The U.S. State Department confirmed that visas were necessary for the Iranian team to compete, but did not address the specific visa refusals.