Iran’s World Cup squad to depart for Mexico on June 6 despite US visa delay

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Iran’s national football team is scheduled to depart for their World Cup base in Tijuana, Mexico, on Saturday, June 6, according to the team’s official social media account and the Iranian football federation (FFIRI). The announcement comes amid lingering uncertainty over US visas for the squad’s group-stage matches, which are to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle.

The team will travel from Antalya, Turkey, where they have been training since last month, to Tijuana via Spain, arriving early Sunday morning local time. Their final warm-up match, against Mali, is set for Thursday in Turkey and will be played behind closed doors, the FFIRI said in a statement.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Al Jazeera and Reuters, carried by the Jerusalem Post, agree on the key details: the squad will leave for Mexico on Saturday, and the Mali match will be held without spectators or media. All sources also note that the team has faced logistical challenges due to the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel since late February.

There is, however, some divergence in emphasis. Al Jazeera’s coverage highlights the team’s morale following a 2-0 win over Mali in a friendly, with goals from Saeid Ezatolahi and Ramin Rezaeian, and frames the departure as a positive step despite ongoing visa issues. The Jerusalem Post, citing Reuters, focuses more on the restrictions imposed by the US, particularly regarding Iranian officials with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

All three accounts confirm that the squad has received visas for Mexico, but none confirm that US entry visas have been issued. Iranian FA President Mehdi Taj said earlier this week that he expected Mexican visas to be issued by Tuesday or Wednesday, and that US visas would follow quickly.

Key Claims

• Team Departure: Iran’s delegation will depart Antalya for Tijuana at 15:20 local time (1220 GMT) on Saturday, June 6, according to the team’s official social media account as reported by Al Jazeera. The Jerusalem Post, citing Reuters, confirms the Saturday departure but does not specify the time.

• Final Warm-Up Match: The match against Mali will be played behind closed doors on Thursday, per a statement from the FFIRI quoted by both Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post. Al Jazeera adds that the team beat Mali 2-0 in that match, with goals from Ezatolahi and Rezaeian, giving them three wins and one loss in four friendlies this year.

• US Visa Uncertainty: Iranian officials and players have not yet received US visas, according to Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post. The squad will need these visas to enter the US for their Group G matches against New Zealand (June 15) and Belgium (June 21) in Los Angeles, and against Egypt (June 26) in Seattle.

• US Restrictions on Officials: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington has “no problem” with the Iranian team entering the country, but will not allow officials or staff with ties to the IRGC to accompany them. This was reported by both Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post. The US and Canada classify the IRGC as a terrorist entity, the Jerusalem Post notes.

• Humanitarian Toll: Al Jazeera reports that at least 3,468 people have been killed in US-Israeli attacks on Iran, according to Iran’s Ministry of Health. This figure has not been independently verified by other sources in this coverage, and the Al Jazeera report also states that Iranian forces have retaliated with attacks on countries hosting US troops and on Israel.

• Prior Incident in Canada: Al Jazeera reports that an Iranian football federation delegation was turned back at Toronto’s main airport due to treatment by Canadian immigration, causing them to miss a pre-World Cup FIFA gathering in Vancouver. This claim is carried solely by Al Jazeera and has not been corroborated by other outlets in this review.

Perspectives

Iranian Perspective: The Iranian football federation and state media emphasize the team’s resilience and preparation despite the conflict. The move to base the team in Mexico, rather than Arizona, was facilitated by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, according to Al Jazeera, after the US authorities indicated they did not want Iran staying in the US. This arrangement allows the team to cross the border for matches in the US.

US Perspective: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made clear that while the players and staff are welcome, individuals with ties to the IRGC—which Washington considers a terrorist entity—will not be permitted to embed with the team. This policy reflects the broader US stance toward the Iranian regime, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Humanitarian Concerns: Al Jazeera’s coverage contextualizes the team’s participation against the backdrop of the ongoing war, citing significant casualties and widespread disruption. The suspension of Iran’s domestic league due to the conflict is noted, underscoring the unusual circumstances under which the team is preparing.

As of now, the FFIRI has not publicly confirmed whether US visas have been issued. The team is expected to receive them in the coming days, but the clock is ticking toward their opening match on June 15.