Kathmandu: With just over a week remaining before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a diplomatic dispute has emerged between Iran and the United States over visa approvals for members of the Iranian national football team.

The World Cup, which begins on June 11, is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Iran has accused the United States of discriminatory treatment after visas were reportedly granted to players but denied to several officials and support staff considered essential members of the national team delegation. The Iranian Embassy in Turkey lodged a protest with U.S. 

Ambassador to Turkey Tom Karak, questioning why management personnel, executive staff, technical advisers, and other team officials had not received visas.

The embassy stated that the exclusion of non-playing members amounted to deliberate and discriminatory treatment of Iran's national team.

Earlier, Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj had expressed optimism after team members submitted their passports for visa processing, praising the efforts of U.S. diplomatic officials. However, Iranian media later reported that Taj himself, along with several delegation members, executives, and sports analysts, had not been granted entry visas.

Amid the growing dispute, Iran has altered its World Cup preparations by relocating its base camp. The team was initially scheduled to stay in Tucson but has instead established its training base in Tijuana, near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Despite the relocation, all three of Iran’s group-stage matches will be played in the United States. Iran is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium on June 21, also in Los Angeles, and Egypt in Seattle on June 27.

The visa controversy has added a diplomatic dimension to the tournament preparations, raising concerns about travel and participation logistics as teams finalize arrangements ahead of football’s biggest global event.