TEHRAN: Iran Football Federation expects FIFA to facilitate multiple-entry visas for the Iranian national football team ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, federation president Mehdi Taj said on Thursday.
“FIFA is expected to deliver a multiple-entry visa so that the players can enter the United States and return to Mexico,” Taj said in remarks broadcast by Iranian media.
Known as Team Melli, the Iranian squad had initially planned to set up its training base in Tucson, Arizona, during the tournament. However, the team later shifted its camp to Tijuana, Mexico, which will co-host the World Cup alongside the United States and Canada.
Taj previously said the decision was aimed at avoiding possible visa complications and allowing the team to travel directly to Mexico aboard Iran Air flights.
Iran are scheduled to play all three Group G matches in the United States. The team will open its World Cup campaign against New Zealand national football team in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium national football team in the same city and Egypt national football team in Seattle later in the group stage.
Taj said it was now certain the team would be based in Mexico as preparations for the tournament continue.
Iran’s participation in the tournament had faced uncertainty in recent months amid regional tensions following the conflict triggered by the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran on February 28.
Taj also said he was unaware of the latest situation involving star striker Sardar Azmoun, who was left out of the national team’s initial squad list by the team manager.
Azmoun, who has scored 57 international goals for Iran and previously played for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and AS Roma, had publicly voiced support for anti-government protests in Iran.
The striker also faced criticism in Iranian state media after a photograph published in March showed him alongside Dubai’s ruler, where he currently lives and plays club football.
More read, Mexico welcome Iran’s 2026 FIFA World Cup team
Earlier this week, an Iranian vice president called for Azmoun’s return to the national squad. In a recent Instagram post, the striker said he had rejected “a very large financial offer from another country” and described himself as “a son of Iran.”
