Iran's World Cup squad granted US visas but some staff blocked

Iran's World Cup squad granted US visas but some staff blocked Submitted by MEE staff on Sat, 06/06/2026 - 10:15 Iranian media reports that members of the squad's administrative staff have not been granted visas to enter the US Iran's players pose for a team photo before a friendly match against Gambia in Turkey, 29 May 2026 (Umit Bektas/Reuters) Off Members of Iran 's World Cup 2026 administrative staff have not been given visas to enter the United States, Iranian media reported on Saturday. According to US officials, while Iranian footballers have been granted visas for the tournament, which begins on Thursday in Mexico, some support staff are reportedly not being allowed to join the squad. On Friday, a White House official told Reuters that the players had received their visas, after Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said on Thursday that they had not.