Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Mehdi Kharati across Soccer, Football.
The Iranian national football team arrived in Los Angeles ahead of its World Cup match against New Zealand, staying at a beachfront hotel under heavy security while protests erupted outside both the hotel and the stadium. Demonstrators displayed photographs of executed athletes, called for Iran's expulsion from football's governing body, and highlighted the broader U.S.–Iran conflict that colors the tournament.
Iran's national football team arrived in Los Angeles ahead of their match against New Zealand, navigating heightened security, diaspora demonstrations, and the lingering impact of a recent missile attack.
Iran’s national football team arrived in Tijuana ahead of the tournament, but a U.S. visa dispute has forced a reshuffle of plans and sparked a political row.
While Iran’s national team receives clearance to enter the United States for the FIFA World Cup, a cascade of visa denials for officials and journalists has ignited diplomatic tension and highlighted broader anxieties about press freedom.
Despite visa approvals for Iran’s World Cup squad, administrative delays, diplomatic friction and media restrictions cast a long shadow over the tournament’s opening.
The Iranian Football Federation denounced the United States for refusing visas to several support staff ahead of the 2026 World Cup, describing the move as unsportsmanlike and politically motivated, while US Ambassador Tom Barrack confirmed that visas have been issued for the players.
Iranian players have been granted U.S. visas for the 2026 World Cup, but several senior officials and support staff remain pending approval, complicating preparations as geopolitical tensions linger.
U.S. visas have been issued to Iran's national football team for the 2026 tournament, but key administrators remain stuck in bureaucratic limbo, raising questions about the delegation's cohesion.
The United States has approved visas for Iran’s national football team for the 2026 World Cup, but the approval is marred by the denial of entry to several essential staff members, a move that has sparked criticism from Tehran and raised questions about the team’s preparations.
Iranian officials say a large number of essential staff for the national team have been refused US visas, casting a shadow over the squad's preparations for the upcoming World Cup. The team will base itself in Mexico amid rising tensions.