The Iran national football team has received US visas for the 2026 World Cup. The visas were issued for the team's players and technical staff. However, some officials and staff members of the Iran national football team were denied entry to the US. Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iran Football Federation, Mehdi Mohammadi, the team's manager, and Hediat Membei, the federation's secretary, were among those who did not receive US visas. The Iran Football Federation criticized the move and announced that it would pursue the matter through FIFA. The Iran national football team will face New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in the 2026 World Cup. Iran will play New Zealand in Los Angeles and then face Belgium and Egypt. The Iran national football team will be based in the Mexican border city of Tijuana and will only travel to the US for their matches.