Iran Accuses US of Political Interference After Denying Visas to Football Officials Ahead of FIFA Tournament

Iran has accused the United States of politicising sport after several senior football officials were reportedly denied visas ahead of the upcoming FIFA tournament co-hosted by the US.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, three officials of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) were unable to obtain visas. They include Executive Director Mehdi Kharati, Secretary-General Hedayat Mombini, and Media Director Mohsen Motamedkia. Despite the setback, the officials are expected to travel with the team to Mexico while efforts continue to secure entry permits to the United States.

In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the FFIRI condemned the visa denials, describing them as a violation of international sporting principles and announcing plans to lodge a complaint with FIFA.

“The US government, continuing its hostile actions against the national team, made a non-sporting and completely political decision to refuse visas for key managerial and administrative members of the Iranian national football team,” the federation stated.

The federation further urged FIFA to intervene, insisting that the world football governing body has a responsibility to ensure that all essential team personnel, including managerial, technical, executive and support staff, receive the necessary travel documents.

The visa dispute has also raised concerns about Iran’s logistical arrangements for the tournament. The team had initially planned to establish its training base in Tucson, Arizona, but relocated to Tijuana, Mexico, in May due to uncertainty surrounding travel and immigration requirements.

Iran is scheduled to play all of its group-stage matches in the United States. The team will face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Adding to the confusion, Iran’s Ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said the squad had been informed that their visas would only permit same-day entry and departure from the United States on match days.

“We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” Pasandideh told reporters on Saturday.

However, national team spokesman Amir Mahdi Alavi offered a different account, stating that players and officials had been issued multiple-entry visas. According to him, the team plans to arrive one day before its opening match and two days before subsequent fixtures.

The uncertainty could create complications for Iran’s preparations, particularly as FIFA regulations require national team coaches to attend pre-match press conferences at host venues on the eve of each game.