{"id":252,"date":"2026-05-18T19:13:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:13:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/iran-fans-rally-in-tehran-as-world-cup-participation-doubts-persist\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T19:13:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:13:17","slug":"iran-fans-rally-in-tehran-as-world-cup-participation-doubts-persist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/iran-fans-rally-in-tehran-as-world-cup-participation-doubts-persist\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran fans rally in Tehran as World Cup participation doubts persist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thousands of supporters packed Tehran\u2019s Enqelab Square on Wednesday night for a World Cup send-off rally, backing the national team despite ongoing uncertainty over whether Iran can reach the United States in time to compete at the tournament.<\/p>\n

The squad, who are due to keep preparing at a training camp in Turkey next week, were greeted by chants and cheers as they delivered patriotic remarks from the stage. The kit they will wear at the competition, running from June 11 to July 19, was also unveiled during the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the best send-off in the last four World Cup campaigns,\u201d Iranian FA (FFIRI) president Mehdi Taj said on state television.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe players are with the people, and the crowd stands with the country\u2019s dignity, honour, and strength. Whatever the result, may Iran\u2019s flag be raised there and defended.\u201d<\/p>\n

Background to the visa concerns<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Iran\u2019s World Cup participation has been under scrutiny since the U.S. and Israel began a regional war with air strikes on the Islamic Republic in late February.<\/li>\n
  2. Two weeks ago, Taj was denied entry to co-host Canada for the FIFA Congress due to his links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), heightening fears that other members of the Iranian delegation could face issues travelling to the United States.<\/li>\n
  3. In the United States, the IRGC is designated as a \u201cterrorist entity,\u201d and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that people with ties to the organisation will not be admitted to the country.<\/li>\n
  4. Iran has said responsibility for bringing the players and team officials into the U.S. rests with the tournament organisers, FIFA.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What was said at the rally<\/h2>\n

    Speaking during Wednesday\u2019s gathering, FFIRI secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini said nothing concrete had been received yet regarding visas, but expressed hope the matter will be resolved within the relevant window.<\/p>\n

    \u201cNothing has arrived yet regarding the visas. We hope it will definitely be handled within this timeframe,\u201d Mombeini told state TV.<\/p>\n

    \u201cFIFA has made promises, and hopefully those promises will lead to results and the players will receive their visas on time.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Concerns in Iran also intensified after reports emerged on Wednesday that some Iraq players had been turned away for U.S. visas. Those claims were quickly rejected by the White House and by the Iraq Football Association, but the situation still sparked fresh anxiety in Tehran.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI just heard that news as well,\u201d Mombeini added.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI hope FIFA steps in \u2026 we have always believed sport should be separate from politics. So in my view FIFA has a duty to step in and make sure entry for all members of all World Cup teams is facilitated.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Preparation plans<\/h2>\n

    With the tournament approaching, Iran are scheduled to face Gambia in a World Cup warm-up match in Antalya on May 29. Mombeini also said the FFIRI is working to set up an additional friendly for the team\u2019s training camp in Turkey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Thousands of supporters packed Tehran\u2019s Enqelab Square on Wednesday night for a World Cup send-off rally, backing the national team despite ongoing uncertainty over whether Iran can reach the United States in time to compete at the tournament. The squad, who are due to keep preparing at a training camp in Turkey next week, were […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Iran World Cup Fans Rally in Tehran Amid US Bid Uncertainty","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Thousands of Iran fans pack Tehran\u2019s Enqelab Square for a World Cup send-off as doubts linger over qualification timing and US tra","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nIran World Cup Fans Rally in Tehran Amid US Bid Uncertainty<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Thousands of Iran fans pack Tehran\u2019s Enqelab Square for a World Cup send-off as doubts 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