Iran’s football federation demands clarification from FIFA on World Cup visa delay
Iran has formally called on FIFA to clarify when 2026 World Cup-related visas will be granted, following the relocation of the national team's training base from Arizona to Tijuana, a top Iranian football official said on Friday.
Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, vice president of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), said the federation has reached out to FIFA for urgent clarification.
According to a statement published on FFIRI's official website, Nabi emphasized that the Mexican camp was originally proposed by the world football governing body.
"We are FIFA members. FIFA suggested the Mexico camp, and for whatever reason, they need to explain what has happened. Nothing unusual has taken place – we accepted the camp in Tijuana, and the team is prepared to travel next week," he said.
The official did not hide his disappointment over the delays in issuing visas.
"It is clear whether this process is fair or not. The media knows, and public opinion in Iran and abroad cares about the national team. We are surprised by this unfair procedure and hope for a swift resolution," he stated.
Nabi, however, added that the team remains focused on preparations.
"The players' attention is entirely on training and friendly matches. Thankfully, we have tried to keep them from being distracted by these issues, but these concerns still need to be addressed," he said.
⚽️ Iranian team’s move from Tucson to Tijuana over security and visa issues has cost US city hundreds of thousands of dollars
— Press TV Sports (@presstvsports) May 29, 2026
Hotels and facilities lost bookings, including a 241-room hotel for 30 days, despite prior $75,000 in preparations and security spending.@presstvsports pic.twitter.com/mE8PwkqzHn
The Iranian football team is currently in Turkey for a pre-tournament camp as it prepares for the biggest football spectacle in the world.
On Friday, the team rallied from a one-goal deficit to beat Gambia 3-1 in a friendly match held in Antalya as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
It came shortly after the team's camp was moved to Mexico, a decision that received the green light from both Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and FIFA.
The decision to relocate the camp was announced on Saturday by FFIRI president Mehdi Taj.
The tactical shift minimizes the number of days the Iranian delegation will need to spend on American soil, offering a practical workaround to deliberate political roadblocks put by US authorities regarding visas for team members.
The 2026 World Cup has been heavily overshadowed by geopolitics, following the unprovoked and illegal US-Israel military aggression against the country.
Though a fragile ceasefire has been in place since April, recent hardline rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who publicly questioned the safety guarantees of the Iranian delegation, left Team Melli's participation hanging by a thread.
Iran will face New Zealand in the opening match in Los Angeles on June 15. The team will then take on Belgium in the same city on June 21 before holding its final group stage match against Egypt five days later in Seattle.
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