WANA (May 21) – Members of Iran’s national football team travelled to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara on Thursday morning to complete the visa application process, as uncertainty remains over whether they will be granted entry to the United States just weeks before the start of the World Cup.

 

According to Turkish media reports, the players carried out the required administrative procedures at the embassy. However, upon leaving the building, they declined to comment on the status of their visa applications or the likelihood of approval.

 

With less than three weeks remaining until the tournament begins, Iran’s participation in matches hosted in the United States remains a sensitive issue. While FIFA’s president has previously assured the Iranian Football Federation that no obstacles are expected regarding the team’s participation, political tensions continue to cast a shadow over the situation.

 

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has previously taken a hardline stance in a post on his social media platform, claiming that the Iranian team would not be guaranteed safety.

 

His special envoy also floated the idea of replacing Iran with Italy in the tournament — a proposal that was firmly rejected by Italian football authorities, who stressed that World Cup qualification must be decided on the pitch.

 

Amid these tensions, Iran’s football federation had requested that the country’s matches be relocated from the United States to Mexico, a proposal that was not accepted by FIFA despite Mexico’s expressed readiness to host.

 

Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj has repeatedly sought formal guarantees from FIFA regarding the team’s conditions in the United States.

 

Following a recent meeting with FIFA’s secretary general, he said that solutions had been proposed for all of Iran’s ten conditions for participation. The FIFA official also expressed optimism that the issues would be resolved.

 

Iran is drawn in a group with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, and is scheduled to play all of its group-stage matches in the United States.