• Iran's national soccer team landed in Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of the World Cup.
• The team is facing visa issues, as many support staff were denied entry to the US.
• Iran's group stage matches will occur in Los Angeles and Seattle.
• The situation reflects longstanding diplomatic tensions between Iran and the US.
• This World Cup is particularly significant due to the ongoing war and political conflicts.

Iran's World Cup squad arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on June 7, 2026, after a long flight from their training camp in Turkey, just days before the tournament begins. Their early morning arrival is overshadowed by a diplomatic row with the United States, which has refused to issue visas for several members of the team's support staff. The team relocated their base from Tucson, Arizona, due to uncertainty about securing these visas, opting for Tijuana instead, where they will be based for the duration of the tournament, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

Prior to their departure, the Iranian players received their U.S. visas on the eve of their flight. However, a significant number of other delegation members, including top officials from the Iranian Football Federation, were denied visas. Iran's embassy in Turkey condemned what they consider "political interference in sport," calling for FIFA to address this issue, as reported by BBC and Los Angeles Times.

The U.S. has emphasized that while visas for athletes and essential support staff were granted, they remain cautious about other individuals, suggesting ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a reason for denial. U.S. officials stated such concerns are grounded in the need to prevent potential security threats to the country, responding to remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as mentioned in Le Monde and South China Morning Post.

Iran is scheduled to play all of their group matches, including fixtures against New Zealand on June 15, Belgium on June 21, and Egypt on June 26, in various locations across the U.S. Notably, the ongoing diplomatic tensions make this tournament distinct, fascinating audiences worldwide as Iran's participation unfolds amidst a backdrop of conflict and historical animosity, remarked in coverage by Al Jazeera and BBC.