Sports

Iran Soccer Team Granted US Visas for World Cup, Official Says

Published 6 days ago

Story

Above: Members of the Iranian soccer team celebrate a goal in their friendly against Gambia in Antalya, Turkey on May 29, 2026. Image credit: Orhan Cicek/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Iran narrative

Despite the reports of visa authorizations for the team, numerous high-ranking officials from the Iranian national team have not been granted the requisite permissions to enter the U.S. Despite loudly claiming to welcome players, Washington is deliberately undermining Iran’s team preparation through discriminatory barriers.

Mehr News Agency Tasnim News Agency

Pro-establishment narrative

The U.S. is proud of its work in processing the visas for Iran's national team, but it has every right to control its borders. Granting visas to Iranian players while ensuring Iranian doesn't abuse the system is a reasonable security measure, not political sabotage. Washington looks forward to hosting the tournament and welcoming fans and competitors from around the world for the competition.

Tom Barrack on X

Adam Crafton on X