Iranian sports minister warns against unauthorised symbols at matches as visa issues affect part of the delegation.
Image; BBC
Iran’s football federation has confirmed that the national team will travel to the United States just one day before its opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, begins on June 11. Iran’s participation comes amid tensions between Tehran and Washington, as well as ongoing visa-related challenges.
According to federation spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi, the team will remain based in Tijuana, Mexico, throughout the group stage. Players and coaching staff will travel to match venues shortly before each game.
Iran will arrive in Los Angeles one day before its opening match against New Zealand on June 15. For the remaining group-stage fixtures, the team will travel to host cities two days before each match.
While players received visas to enter the United States, several members of Iran’s administrative and management staff were reportedly denied entry permits. Iranian officials say around 15 delegation members remain affected by the visa dispute.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali warned against the display of symbols or flags other than those of the Islamic Republic of Iran during matches.
He said team officials would be expected to act if unauthorised symbols or slogans appeared inside stadiums. Donyamali also called on tournament organisers to ensure compliance with regulations.
Iran begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They will then face Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
