Visas granted amid IRGC restrictions
Iran's national football team has received the necessary visas to travel to the United States for the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, a game scheduled for 15 June in Los Angeles against New Zealand. The clearance was confirmed by US officials, who emphasized that the delegation will be barred from any individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that while the team will be allowed to enter, any involvement of IRGC-affiliated personnel would be unacceptable, reflecting the broader diplomatic sensitivities surrounding the tournament.
The admission comes as the World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marks a historic first: a team from a country at war with one of the host nations will compete on the world stage. FIFA, the sport's governing body, will oversee the event, which is expected to showcase the complex interplay of sport and geopolitics.
Recent reports from the Fars news agency indicated that several technical and administrative staff members had initially been denied entry, underscoring the delicate negotiations behind the scenes. Several players in the Iranian squad have also completed mandatory military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, further complicating the composition of the delegation.