WANA (Jun 05) – On the eve of the Iranian national football team’s departure for the 2026 World Cup, Mehdi Taj, the President of the Iranian Football Federation, issued a stern warning regarding the status of U.S. visas for the delegation heading to their training camp in Tijuana, Mexico.

 

Speaking on the visa issuance process, Taj revealed that FIFA instructed the federation yesterday to submit the passports of the national team members to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, which has already been completed.

 

“We have explicitly informed FIFA that if visas are not issued for all members of the national team, we will take alternative decisions,” Taj stated.

 

Expectation of Multiple-Entry Visas Amid Tight Schedule

The federation chief emphasized the logistical necessity of securing U.S. transit visas prior to the team’s arrival in Mexico, noting that the delegation is awaiting a breakthrough before their scheduled flight tomorrow. Despite the tight timeline, Taj noted that his current assessment is that the U.S. visas will ultimately be granted to the team.

 

He further clarified the federation’s insistence on receiving multiple-entry visas to avoid disruptions during the tournament: “The visa itself must be a multiple-entry visa; this is our explicit demand because the players and the technical staff need to maintain their complete focus on the matches. Requiring them to go back and secure a new visa for every single entry and exit would be a form of sabotage.”

 

FIFA Held Accountable for Hosting Standards

Taj did not mince words regarding his political expectations of the host nation, linking the current bureaucratic hurdles to wider geopolitical grievances.

 

He stated that roadblocks are expected from a country like the United States, pointing to past hostile actions such as the attack on a school in Minab that killed 168 children, as well as the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader.

 

However, Taj stressed that the Iranian federation’s primary expectations lie with the international governing body of football. “While we anticipate obstruction from the U.S., we expect proper hosting standards from FIFA because it is their absolute duty,” Taj emphasized. “They are organizing the World Cup, and any form of disorder, disruption, or issues in running the tournament falls squarely on the shoulders of the international federation.”