The Iran National Team managed to alleviate part of the crisis involving visas for the 2026 World Cup. After a new round of requests, four members of the delegation received authorization to enter the United States, according to information released by the BBC.
Even with the advancement, . Eleven members of the delegation remain without permission to enter North American territory just a few days before the team’s debut in the tournament.
Initially, 15 members had their visa applications denied. After the delegation arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, ten people represented the documentation seeking a new analysis from the American authorities.
Among those are an analyst from the technical committee, two representatives from the Iranian federation and another member of the delegation whose identity was not revealed.
On the other hand, six requests received a negative response again. Also according to the BBC, important names in the team’s structure remain prevented from entering the United States, including the president of the Iranian federation, Mehdi Taj, as well as a vice-president and members of the operations, press and security departments.
Iran debuts in the World Cup next Monday (15), against New Zealand, in Los Angeles, in Group G. All of the team’s matches in the group stage will take place on American soil. In addition to the New Zealanders, the Iranians will face Belgium and Egypt.
Depending on the teams’ campaign in the first phase, the tournament could still hold a reunion between Iran and the United States in the knockout stage. The teams have already faced each other in World Cups in the 1998 and 2022 editions, with one victory for each side.
