Iran players arrive Mexico for training ahead of the World Cup
Iran football team has arrived in Mexico for training few days ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“First of all, we’re very happy that the team has finally arrived, and we’re delighted about that. Thank God, the team’s condition is very good,” Ehsan Hajsafi, the team’s defender said hours ago.
But there are a number of hurdles for the team to navigate as the Iranian sets to play in the tournament hosted by United States, Mexico and Canada. It’s about the war in Iran.
They’re finding it difficult processing visas. And this has already compelled the team to move their training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, which is on the border with California.
Up to this moment, Iranian Football Federation’s secretary-general, Hedayat Mombeini, and its vice president, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi – both key members of the Iranian entourage – are yet to have US visas ahead of coming Los Angeles and Seattle games.
And Hajsafi is complaining bitterly about that, blaming FIFA.
“From here, I would like to ask FIFA to address this issue so that, God willing, the situation can be resolved in the coming days”, he said.
Because of the war, Iran’s sports minister said on March that it would “not be possible” for the team to participate in the World Cup.
The republic’s soccer federation doused the tensions, said in May they’re going ahead to play in enemies territory. But the federation is demanding that all players and staff be granted visas, including those who had military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps be granted visas.
Iranian team would be playing against New Zealand and Belgium in Inglewood, California on June 15 and June 21 respectively. On June 26 it would clash with Egypt in Seattle.
If both the Iranian and the United States teams come second in their groups, they could face each other in the pitch in Arlington, Texas in round 32 on July 3.
Football may be a game – a game – but the US-Israel with Iran remains a big factor. In March, US President Donald Trump said it was “inappropriate” for Iranian team to play on US soil, raising concerns about the players’ “life” and “safety”.
The same month, Iranian authorities said that Star forward Sardar Azmoun made reckless social media post. He was dropped from playing.