Iran Ordered To Leave US On Match Days As World Cup Visa Dispute Escalates

Iran’s World Cup preparations have been hit by a growing diplomatic row after the team was told it must enter and leave the United States on the same day as its matches, while several officials and support staff remain without visas.

The squad arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, earlier today, June 7, and will use the border city as their tournament base after abandoning plans to stay in Tucson, Arizona. The move came amid uncertainty over visas and rising tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said the team had been informed it would not be allowed to remain in the US between matches.

“We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” Pasandideh told reporters.

US officials said all players and “necessary support staff” had received visas ahead of Iran’s opening Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 16 June.

They also said Iran would not be allowed to “abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences”.

Iran, however, says several key personnel have been denied entry.

The Iranian embassy in Turkey accused the US of “politically biased interference in sport” and said visas had been refused for “a large portion of the managerial and executive staff” as well as “technical advisers”. The embassy also called on FIFA to intervene in the dispute.

Iranian state-linked media reported that around 15 officials have been denied visas, including the football federation president, his deputy and a media director.

The visa controversy has overshadowed Iran’s build-up to the tournament, which begins on 11 June in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran secured qualification in March 2025 by finishing top of their qualifying group.

Iran will face New Zealand in Los Angeles before taking on Belgium in California and Egypt in Seattle.