Iran’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been thrown into serious doubt, with less than a month remaining before the tournament begins and no visas yet issued to members of the national team for travel to the United States.
According to Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj, not a single player or staff member has secured the necessary documentation to enter the US, one of the tournament’s host countries. The situation has raised alarm within Iranian football circles, with just 28 days left before the competition kicks off.
The 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the first to feature an expanded format of 48 teams. Iran had successfully qualified and were expected to compete strongly, but administrative hurdles now threaten to overshadow their preparations.
At the centre of the issue are longstanding diplomatic tensions between Iran and the United States. The two countries have not maintained formal diplomatic relations since 1980, a factor that appears to be complicating the visa process. Reports also suggest that broader geopolitical instability in the Middle East has added further uncertainty to the situation.
Despite earlier assurances from FIFA president Gianni Infantino that Iran would be able to fulfil its fixtures in the United States, little tangible progress has been made in securing entry clearance for the team.
Mehdi Taj has confirmed that a crucial meeting with FIFA officials is expected in the coming days, during which the Iranian federation will seek urgent guarantees to resolve the matter. The federation is pressing for swift intervention to ensure the team can participate without disruption.
In the meantime, Iran’s preparations continue under a cloud of uncertainty. The squad is expected to travel to Ankara next week, where players and staff will reportedly complete fingerprinting procedures while beginning a pre-tournament training camp.
However, the unresolved visa issue has raised significant logistical concerns, including travel arrangements, scheduling, and the team’s ability to fully prepare for the competition. It also presents the risk of a major administrative controversy just weeks before the start of one of football’s biggest global events.
Iran had entered the tournament with ambitions of progressing beyond the group stage, building on their status as one of Asia’s strongest national teams. But with time running out, attention has shifted away from footballing matters to urgent diplomatic and administrative negotiations.
Pressure is now mounting on FIFA and relevant authorities to find a solution that allows Iran to compete, as failure to do so could have far-reaching implications for the tournament and the integrity of the competition.
