US-Iran Soccer Friction
Iran's World Cup Team Lands in Mexico, Accuses US of 'Obstructionism'
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Iran's national soccer team touched down in Tijuana, Mexico on Sunday, flying in from Turkey after the US blocked most of the team's administrative delegation from entering the country CNN. Iran's football federation president Mehdi Taj accused Washington of "obstructionism" and "a lack of equality among teams," setting off a diplomatic row just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off.
A US administration official confirmed that visas for the 26-man playing squad had been issued, but between 13 and 15 senior administrative officials were denied entry Reuters. The team will now base itself in Tijuana — about an hour from Los Angeles — and will only be allowed to cross into the US on match days.
Iran Rerouted to Mexico After US Visa Denials
Iran originally planned to train in Tucson, Arizona. That fell through after the US State Department imposed a "match-day only" entry rule, meaning the team can enter the US only on the morning of a game and must leave immediately after AP. Coach Amir Ghalenoei said the delays left the team too little time to adjust to a 12-hour time difference, calling the treatment "unethical."
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stepped in, approving Tijuana as Iran's base camp. She said flatly that "the US does not want the Iranian national team to spend the night in the USA" Financial Times. Mexican National Guard troops have been deployed around the team's Marriott hotel in Tijuana to prevent clashes between rival Iranian diaspora groups.
IRGC Ties Drive US Decision to Block Officials
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on June 2 that the US would deny entry to any Iranian delegate with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — a group the US designates as a terrorist organization CNBC. Rubio said, "We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses."
Federation president Mehdi Taj is himself a former IRGC commander and was personally denied a visa The New Arab. Taj was first blocked from attending the December 2025 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. The US says all players essential to competition have been cleared, framing the exclusions as a security measure rather than a sporting punishment.
First Wartime World Cup Since 1930 Raises Stakes
This is the first time since the inaugural 1930 World Cup that a host nation is at war with a participating country Reuters. The US and Israel launched "Operation Epic Fury" on February 28, 2026 — nearly 900 airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites. A fragile ceasefire brokered by Pakistan took hold on April 8, but the two countries have no diplomatic relations.
Iran captain Ehsan Hajsafi publicly challenged FIFA, asking "Why so late?" over the visa delays Middle East Eye. Team officials say the late arrival violates standard FIFA protocol, which requires pre-match stadium walk-throughs and press conferences on-site. The city of Tucson separately reported a "painful financial impact" after losing the Iranian base camp, which was expected to bring in millions of dollars in local revenue.
Iran's Group G Schedule and What Comes Next
Iran is slotted into Group G with three matches all near Los Angeles. They face New Zealand on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle CNN. Each game will require the team to cross the US border at dawn and return to Tijuana the same night, a logistical burden no other team at the tournament faces.
Geopolitical analysts say the US is using its role as host to practice what some call "soft-power containment" — pressuring Iran through bureaucratic friction rather than direct exclusion CGTN. FIFA has not publicly sanctioned the US over the restrictions, leaving Iran to navigate a tournament on hostile soil with a skeleton support staff.
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