Iran Claims US Blocked Visas for Key Football Officials Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Iran’s government has accused the United States of discriminatory conduct after it claimed that several important figures connected to Iran’s national football team were refused visas ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

On Saturday, Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, posted on X praising the work of American embassy staff in Ankara for helping process entry permits for Iran’s squad as they prepare for the tournament in the United States. Barrack said he was “proud” of the team’s efforts in handling visa applications “on their road” to the World Cup, adding that sport “transcends borders” and that the U.S. looks forward to welcoming athletes and supporters from across the globe.

Iran’s response

1. Iran’s embassy in Turkey rejected Barrack’s comments, disputing the idea that the visa process had been handled fairly despite continuing strain between Tehran and Washington.
2. The embassy said the U.S. breached FIFA rules by allegedly refusing visas to a large share of Iran’s managerial and executive personnel, as well as technical advisers and others it described as essential to any national team.
3. In its statement, the embassy argued that the U.S. cannot “whitewash” actions that violate FIFA regulations and ignore the United States’ responsibilities as the host country simply by praising its own efforts.
4. It accused Washington of escalating deliberate, discriminatory treatment of Iran’s national football team to the highest level.
5. The embassy claimed that by carrying political hostility into the sporting arena, the U.S. is effectively denying Iran’s team the opportunity to participate in the World Cup “under normal conditions,” without added pressure or stress.
6. It described the alleged actions as the most extreme form of politically driven interference in sport and urged FIFA to hold the U.S. accountable for any rule breaches and discriminatory treatment.

Iran’s embassy concluded by calling on FIFA to take responsibility for enforcing its regulations and addressing what it said was discriminatory conduct toward Iran’s national team.