Iran demands multiple-entry US visas for World Cup squad as base relocates to Mexico

Iran’s Football Federation (FFIRI) has formally requested that the United States issue multiple-entry visas for its World Cup squad and support staff, citing the need to travel between their new base in Tijuana, Mexico, and US venues for group stage matches. The request follows FIFA’s approval to relocate Iran’s training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana due to ongoing military conflict between the US and Iran. Players have applied for visas in Turkiye and Canada, while the team prepares for matches in Los Angeles, Seattle, and potentially Canadian knockout venues.

FFIRI president Mehdi Taj made the visa request on Wednesday in Mashhad, Iran, stating that players and staff would need to leave and re-enter the US multiple times. “The US should give all players multiple-entry visas as they would have to leave and re-enter the US many times,” Taj told local reporters. The Iranian squad has not been issued US visas yet, with several members attending visa appointments in Turkiye last week where the team has been training. Players and staff who travelled to Turkiye from Iran applied for US visas, while those who had not applied for them before the start of the war on Iran in February also submitted their visa applications in person at the embassy.

The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, leading to a regional conflict that has now lasted three months. Despite a ceasefire in place, the US carried out strikes on Iranian military sites on Wednesday and, in return, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched an attack on an “American airbase” in the region. Iranian negotiators were in Doha for ceasefire talks at the time of recent US strikes, underscoring the fragile nature of the diplomatic situation.

FIFA confirmed on Monday that Iran’s World Cup training base camp had been relocated from the US to Mexico upon the team’s request. Iran had originally selected a sports complex in Tucson in the US state of Arizona as their national team’s base during the World Cup, but later sought a change. When FIFA published the final list of team base camp locations this week, Iran were allocated Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, Mexico, as their location of choice. Tijuana’s location directly across the US-Mexico border from San Diego could help with visa issues when the team needs to enter the country, according to Taj.

Iran’s team will open their World Cup campaign on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, California, where they will face Belgium six days later. Iran’s last Group G game is against Egypt in Seattle, in Washington state, on June 21. Meanwhile, the whole squad applied for Canadian visas in case Iran proceeded to the knockouts allocated to venues in Canada. The World Cup, cohosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, runs from June 11 through July 19.