Iran faces World Cup visa approvals

Iran’s football team attended visa appointments in Türkiye on May 21 as the country tried to clear travel hurdles for the 2026 World Cup. Reuters reported that the full squad applied for Canadian visas in Ankara, while some players who had not previously applied for U.S. entry also submitted applications at the U.S. embassy. The team has been training in Antalya ahead of the tournament, which opens on June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran are scheduled to play all three group-stage matches on the U.S. West Coast. ### Why is Iran handling visas from Türkiye? Türkiye has become the practical processing hub for Iran’s squad because Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic relations since 1980. Iran’s football federation had previously said U.S. visa applications for the team would be handled in Türkiye after discussions with FIFA. Mehdi Taj, the federation chief, said on May 14 that players were expected to travel to Ankara for fingerprinting as part of the visa process. (aljazeera.com) Antalya is also serving as Iran’s pre-tournament base. Reuters said some foreign-based Iranian players joined the squad in Ankara before traveling on to the training camp on Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast. AFP reported earlier that no U.S. visas had yet been issued as of May 14. (aljazeera.com) ### What exactly did the players do in Ankara? Reuters reported on May 21 that the whole squad attended appointments for Canadian visas. The same report said some players who had not applied for American visas before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February also submitted U.S. applications in person at the embassy in Ankara. (aljazeera.com) An Iranian football federation official told Reuters that a number of players filed applications in the Turkish capital on Thursday. Photos distributed with the report showed players and delegation members leaving the U.S. embassy after the appointments. ### Why does Canada matter if Iran’s group games are in the United States? (aljazeera.com) Iran are due to play New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles before facing Egypt in Seattle five days later. Reuters reported that the team would require access to Canada if it progresses to the knockout rounds. That made Canadian visa processing part of the same travel operation even though the group-stage schedule is in the United States. (aljazeera.com) Yahoo Sports, citing USA Today, reported on May 17 that Iran was scheduled to play all three of its group-stage matches in the United States. The same report said FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström met Iran Football Federation officials in Istanbul on May 16 amid uncertainty over the team’s World Cup status. (aljazeera.com) ### What has Iran said about the delays? Mehdi Taj said on May 14 that “no visas have been issued yet,” according to IRNA remarks cited by AFP. Taj also said, “They must give us guarantees, because the visa issue has still not been resolved,” before a planned meeting with FIFA. Yahoo Sports reported on May 17 that Taj had earlier listed 10 conditions for Iran’s participation, including entry for players and staff who had served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the presence of the team flag and anthem, and increased security. (sports.yahoo.com) ### How much does this affect Iran’s preparation? (aljazeera.com) Iran’s domestic league was suspended in March, leaving many domestic-based players short of match fitness, Reuters reported. Coach Amir Ghalenoei has been using the Antalya camp to prepare a squad that had gone seven weeks without competitive football. (sports.yahoo.com) Iran are due to play Gambia in a friendly on May 29 before Ghalenoei names his final 26-man World Cup squad by FIFA’s June 1 deadline. The tournament begins on June 11, and Iran open against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. (aljazeera.com)