The Iranian national team’s participation in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup is now in jeopardy, with only 28 days remaining before the tournament begins.
Details: RMC Sport reports that Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, expressed significant concern on Thursday over the lack of US visas for any team members. The situation is exacerbated by existing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the absence of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington since 1980.
Taj indicated that a critical meeting with FIFA is scheduled in the coming days, wherein he will seek assurances for a resolution to the visa situation. Although FIFA President Gianni Infantino has stated that Iran will participate in its matches in the US as planned, no tangible progress has been made in securing the required documentation.
The Iranian squad is set to travel to Ankara next Monday for necessary fingerprinting procedures and the commencement of their pre-tournament training camp.