10 resultsfor “why were Iran's World Cup staff denied US visas”
staff visa appeals but 11 banned **Four members of Iran's World Cup delegation have won appeals against having their visa applications for entry to the United States rejected.** But 11 members of the party
Iran now look set to take part in a fourth consecutive World Cup, although the country has accused the US of denying visas to some executives and backroom staff
Iran’s three matches in the US had been revoked. Visas were also denied to [15](https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/iran-team-chief-slams-fifas-lack-coordination-visa-issues-2026-06-12/) football federation staff. Then there’s the case of [Omar Artan](/news/2026/6/8/us-confirms-denying-entry-to-somali-referee-set-to-take-part-in-world-cup), the top Somali referee
World Cup. The next test will come on Sunday, when Iran are due to fly into the United States for the first time. Iran has accused the US of denying visas to [15 "integral" members
World Cup has been plagued with uncertainty, linked to the ongoing war in the Middle East and related security concerns. On 25 May, Iran [moved their training base](/sport/football/articles/clypp2z7021o) from Tucson, Arizona to the Mexican
World Cup](/sports/2026/6/8/how-extreme-weather-and-heat-could-affect-players-at-world-cup-2026), which is being cohosted by Mexico and Canada. Iran’s national team has to stay in Mexico due to visa issues. The players will be allowed to arrive in the US
World Cup, due to tensions with the United States. On Monday, Sheinbaum said that FIFA, the global football governing body, had approached Mexico about hosting [Iran](/sports/2026/5/14/irans-us-bound-world-cup-squad-given-public-sendoff-in-tehran), after the US said it did not wish
visas](/video/newsfeed/2026/6/7/irans-world-cup-team-arrives-in-mexico-as-us-visa-row-continues) for some of its support staff, as the two countries have effectively remained at war since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. Neither FIFA nor US organisers have publicly commented
staff to move repeatedly between jurisdictions, raising the prospect that visa restrictions or diplomatic frictions could complicate planning for certain nations. Iran have qualified for the tournament, but their participation has been fraught since
staff told him that because he wasn't a Jordanian citizen, that embassy could not give him a visa. The tickets for the match and the trip to Jordan cost him about