[78911] Crisis in the Iranian national team ahead of the World Cup: visa issues and preparation difficulties

Crisis in the Iranian national team ahead of the World Cup

In the shadow of preparations for the 2026 World Cup, the Iranian national football team is in an "unprecedented crisis," as defined by coach Amir Ghalenoei. According to reports from Iran International, a media outlet identified with the Iranian opposition abroad, the team has encountered serious difficulties in obtaining entry visas to the U.S. and Mexico. The Iranian Football Federation attempted to move its training camp from the U.S. state of Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, to avoid friction with the Iranian community opposing the regime, but is now facing bureaucratic difficulties with the Mexican authorities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that "the Mexican Embassy in Ankara waived the fingerprinting procedure" and that the visas are expected to be issued within a day or two. Conversely, Mehdi Taj, head of the Football Federation, pointed an accusing finger at FIFA, claiming that the international organization is solely responsible for arranging the players' entry into the tournament and not the U.S. government.

At the same time, the Iranian Students News Agency (SNN), a media outlet identified with the conservative establishment in Iran, published a series of interviews with former national team player Mohammad Nosrati. In these conversations, Nosrati avoided direct criticism of the management of the current crisis and focused on his memories of the 2006 World Cup and a professional analysis of the leading teams in the upcoming tournament.

Nosrati noted that in the 2006 World Cup, the central problem was a lack of unity among the players, and that he aspires to see the development of higher quality sports infrastructure in Iran. Contrary to reports about the current crisis, Nosrati emphasized his patriotic position by saying: "Maybe I criticize some issues in my country, but I will never agree that a foreigner should make decisions for this land."