Iran Football Federation Says US Denied Visas to Some World Cup Cup Delegation Members

Iran's Football Federation said some members of its delegation for the 2026 World Cup were denied entry visas by the United States. The federation issued a statement Saturday calling the decision political and discriminatory, adding that the denial affected key figures from its administrative and technical staff. The federation said the refusal violated international sports rules and customs. It also said it was tracking the process through FIFA, which bears responsibility for ensuring all team members complete entry procedures before the tournament. A White House official said the previous day that Iranian national team players had received visas, bringing renewed attention to the visa process ahead of the team's first match. Iran's opening group match is scheduled for June 15 against New Zealand. The federation warned that the absence of some administrative and technical personnel from training camps and matches would reduce the support available to the team.