Overview
- U.S. officials confirmed late on Friday that Iran’s players received visas and the squad has relocated its base to Tijuana, Mexico to prepare for group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
- Iranian diplomats and the football federation say a large number of managerial and support staff were denied visas or given restrictive terms, which Tehran calls discriminatory and a breach of FIFA rules.
- U.S. spokespeople say the visas necessary for competition, including athletes and required support staff, have been issued and that individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will be barred from entry.
- The International Sports Press Association reports many Iranian and several African journalists were refused or given single‑entry visas, a move that could limit on‑the‑ground coverage and complicate reporting across the three host countries.
- This is the first World Cup in which a host nation is at war with a participant, a fact that sharpens the diplomatic stakes and makes FIFA intervention, the list of barred individuals, and cross‑border travel rules the key issues to watch next