Iran football team cleared to enter US day before World Cup matches, DHS confirms
Synopsis
The US Department of Homeland Security has stepped in to correct the record: Iran's footballers will not be forced into same-day travel for their World Cup matches. But with key managerial staff denied entry and a training camp relocated over safety fears, the geopolitical shadow over Iran's 2026 campaign is far from lifted.
Key Takeaways
The US DHS confirmed on 9 June that Iran's football team may enter the US the day before each World Cup match.
Reports citing Iran's ambassador to Mexico had claimed the squad would face same-day entry and exit — the DHS called those claims 'untrue.' All players received US visas by 6 June , just ten days before the tournament's start.
Several officials — including the team manager , two analysts , media director , and a Foreign Ministry representative — were denied entry.
Iran face New Zealand ( 15 June , Los Angeles), Belgium ( 21 June , Los Angeles), and Egypt ( 26 June , Seattle) in the group stage.
Iran's training camp shifted from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico amid reported safety concerns.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed on Tuesday, 9 June that Iran's national football team will be permitted to enter the United States the day before each of their 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, directly contradicting earlier reports that the squad would be required to travel in and out of the country on match days. The clarification ends weeks of uncertainty surrounding Iran's participation logistics at a tournament hosted on American soil.
What the DHS Said
A DHS spokesman flatly rejected claims attributed to Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, who was reported over the weekend as saying the team would have to enter and exit the USA on the same day as their fixtures. 'These statements are untrue,' the spokesman said. 'Thanks to the generosity of President Donald Trump, the Iranian team will be able to arrive the day before their matches.'
The ambassador's remarks, reported on Saturday, had sparked concern among football officials and observers about the potential impact of same-day travel on the team's physical condition and competitive readiness.
Visa Approvals and Officials Denied Entry
All playing members of the Iranian squad were granted US visas by Friday, 6 June — just ten days before the start of the competition. However, several non-playing officials were denied entry. According to the Iranian embassy in Mexico, those refused include the team manager, two team analysts, the media director, and a Foreign Ministry representative — individuals the Iranian Football Federation described as 'key managerial and administrative members.'
The denials add a layer of operational complexity for the Iranian delegation, even as the players themselves have been cleared to compete.
Iran's World Cup Schedule
Iran are currently based at a training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, having relocated from an originally planned site in Arizona. Reports at the time indicated the move was prompted by safety concerns following the conflict declared by the USA and Israel on Iran in February.
Iran open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, before facing Belgium, also in Los Angeles, on 21 June. Their group stage concludes against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.
Background: Trump's Position on Iran's Participation
President Trump announced in March that Iran would be welcomed at the tournament, while simultaneously stating it would not be appropriate for the players to remain in the US between matches. The DHS clarification on Tuesday represents a formal refinement of that position, confirming arrival-the-day-before as the operative arrangement. This comes amid an unusually fraught geopolitical backdrop for a World Cup host nation, with US-Iran relations at one of their most strained points in decades.
Point of View
Followed by a formal government rebuttal — reflects how deeply geopolitics has infiltrated what should be routine World Cup administration. Denying entry to the team manager and analysts while admitting players is a distinction that will do little to ease Iranian grievances; it effectively handicaps the delegation without banning the squad outright. With the US-Iran conflict as backdrop, every visa decision at this tournament carries diplomatic weight that organisers at FIFA almost certainly did not plan for.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Iran's football team be allowed to stay in the US during the 2026 World Cup?
Iran's players are permitted to enter the US the day before each match but are not authorised to remain in the country between fixtures, according to the DHS. President Trump had stated in March that it would not be suitable for the players to stay in the US between games.
Why were some Iranian officials denied US visas for the World Cup?
Several non-playing members of Iran's delegation — including the team manager, two analysts, the media director, and a Foreign Ministry representative — were denied US entry. The Iranian Football Federation described them as 'key managerial and administrative members,' though no official reason for the denials was provided by US authorities.
What is Iran's group stage schedule at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Iran play New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June, Belgium in Los Angeles on 21 June, and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.
Where is Iran's World Cup training camp located?
Iran are currently training in Tijuana, Mexico. The camp was originally planned for Arizona but was relocated, reportedly over safety concerns linked to the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran that began in February.
When did Iran's players receive their US visas?
All playing members of the Iranian squad were granted US visas on 6 June — approximately ten days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
