FIFA World Cup 2026: Iran slams US over ‘discriminatory’ denial of visas to fifteen soccer officers | World Information
4 min learnUp to date: Jun 7, 2026 10:33 AM IST
Iran has slammed FIFA World Cup co-host the US over “discriminatory therapy” after the latter refused to grant visas to about 15 officers of its nationwide staff’s delegation to attend the match, The Guardian reported.
Iran has alleged that 15 of its administration officers, together with govt director Mehdi Kharati, secretary normal of the soccer federation Hedayat Mombini, and media director Mohsen Motamedkia have been denied entry to the US.
The transfer got here hours after Washington confirmed Iranian gamers had been granted permission to journey to the upcoming soccer match, amid an escalating warfare between the 2 nations.
Iran’s allegations
The Iranian embassy in Turkey has accused the US of unleashing the “worst potential type of politically biased interference in sport” by denying visas to a “massive portion of the managerial and govt workers” and “technical advisers”.
Taking to X, the embassy wrote: “You might have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory therapy towards Iran’s nationwide soccer staff to its highest stage. By extending your whimsical hostilities towards the Iranian nation into the realm of sport, the US authorities in apply is depriving Iran’s nationwide staff of its proper to play within the World Cup below regular situations and with out undue strain and stress.”
You can’t whitewash conduct that violates FIFA laws and breaches the US’ host obligations merely by praising yourselves.
Why do you not say that visas have been denied to a big portion of the managerial and govt workers, technical advisers, and others who’re… https://t.co/AoEvfphxmH
— Iran Embassy in Türkiye (@Iran_in_Turkiye) June 6, 2026
It additionally demanded that FIFA maintain the US accountable for the discriminatory therapy of Iranian administrative officers and the violation of its phrases.
US’s safety strategy
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In line with US officers quoted by the BBCvisas have been issued to all gamers and “essential help workers” on Friday.
On the identical time, these officers asserted that Iran wouldn’t be allowed to “abuse this method to sneak terrorists into the US below false pretences”.
Earlier this week, too, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, advised lawmakers that the US wouldn’t permit Iran to incorporate of their World Cup delegation people linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a gaggle that’s preventing the warfare towards the US from the entrance. A number of gamers of the Iranian nationwide staff have accomplished necessary army service with the IRGC.
Furthermore, whereas the US Division of Homeland Safety didn’t explicitly introduce any restrictions on members of Iran’s staff and its delegation throughout their time within the US, it advised the BBC in an announcement that DHS is “steadfast in our dedication to the security and safety of the American folks and attendees of the 2026 FIFA World Cup”.
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The company additionally said they’re “intricately concerned in the entire of presidency strategy securing the 11 host metropolis websites throughout the nation, together with Los Angeles”.
Subsequent steps for Iran
With Iran set for a gap fixture towards New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, workers members now with out visas would journey from Turkey to Mexico with the staff whereas efforts to acquire them proceed, Iran’s information company Tasnim reported.
The staff is predicted to land in Mexico’s Tijuana within the early hours of Sunday, taking a 20-hour flight, in accordance with The Guardian.
They may now need to enter and go away the US on the identical day as their matches, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico has said.
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The Iranian staff will face Belgium on June 21 and tackle Egypt in Seattle on June 26, in accordance with experiences.
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