Italy’s repechage to World Cup, visa issue puts everything back on the table

With less than a month to go before the start of the World Cup, the visa situation for Iran in the United States still remains uncertain. The main issue concerns the entry into the country of executives and staff accompanying the national team, an element that continues to cast doubt on the full participation of Tehran’s selection for the 2026 World Cup.

Making the point was the president of the Iranian Football Federation Mehdi Taj, who in recent weeks had been turned back at the Canadian border because of his past in the Guards of the Revolution. According to Irna news agency reports, Taj explained that the situation is still completely at a standstill: “We have not received any communication from the other side regarding people who have been issued visas. No visas have been issued yet.”

The executive also announced an upcoming confrontation with FIFA: “We will have a crucial meeting with FIFA tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. They have to provide us with guarantees, because the visa issue is still unresolved.”

On the operational side, Taj added that the players will have to travel to Ankara, Turkey, to complete the identification procedure with fingerprinting. He then reiterated the federation’s position, “We have nothing to do with America. We have qualified for the World Cup and it is up to FIFA to organize it.”