Infantino: No Visa Issues for 2026 World Cup Teams in the U.S.
WANA (Oct 11) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that “no team will face any problems traveling to the United States for the 2026 World Cup.”
This statement comes as the U.S. government has reportedly created obstacles in issuing visas for members of Iran’s football delegation to attend the World Cup draw ceremony.
Infantino said on Friday that “there will be no issues regarding visa issuance for participating teams and delegations.”
FIFA’s Solution for Iran National Team’s U.S. Travel Issue
WANA (Oct 07) – The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) has reportedly proposed an unusual solution to the U.S. government’s refusal to issue visas for members of Iran’s national football team, opting not to pressure Washington directly. According to Mohammed Al-Jazzar, a journalist with Germany’s DPA news agency, FIFA is considering holding the […]
The World Cup is a completely sporting event under FIFA’s supervision, and the host government has no right to interfere in its affairs.
However, last week, Alavi, the spokesperson for Iran’s Football Federation, announced that the U.S. government has not yet issued visas for head coach Amir Ghalenoei, federation president Mehdi Taj, and seven other Iranian officials invited to attend the 2026 World Cup draw. He added that the federation is currently in contact with FIFA to resolve the problem.
In recent days, some foreign media outlets reported that the FIFA president had proposed an unusual solution to move Iran’s group-stage matches to Mexico.
Global Outcry Against FIFA and the U.S. After Political Move Against Iranian Football
WANA (Oct 04) – The U.S. government’s refusal to issue visas for Amir Ghalenoei, head coach of Iran’s national football team, and Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw, has sparked widespread backlash among international users and media outlets. Many social media users described the move as […]
Now, Infantino says that “very good negotiations have been held with the United States government regarding the visa issue,” and that a working group has been formed with the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump to address the matter.
Infantino stressed that FIFA is in contact with all relevant foreign ministries to facilitate visa issuance and that “there will be no problems in this regard.” He added, “Very soon, good news will be announced.”
A man takes a selfie with the FIFA World Cup Trophy during an unveiling ceremony in Tehran, Iran, September 1, 2022. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
