Iran Squad Deadline Passes With Zero US Visas — 10 Days to Group G Opener; Tijuana Base Camp Fully Operational; Forfeiture Risk Escalates

The FIFA squad submission deadline of June 1 passed without a single US entry visa being issued to any member of Iran's World Cup delegation — the sharpest escalation yet in the visa crisis with exactly 10 days remaining to Iran's June 15 Group G opener vs New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Iran's football federation submitted their 26-man squad on deadline day, headed by captain Mehdi Taremi (Inter Milan), goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), and Saman Ghoddos (Brentford). Iran's base camp at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana is now fully operational, with the squad training daily in Mexico and planning to commute across the US-Mexico border for Group G matches at SoFi Stadium (June 15 vs New Zealand; June 21 vs Belgium) and Lumen Field, Seattle (June 26 vs Egypt). Iran's federation president Mehdi Taj formally demanded clarification from FIFA that players would receive multiple-entry visas given the cross-border logistics. FIFA provided written guarantees of visa issuance but the US State Department has given no confirmed timeline. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated the concern is not athletes but IRGC-linked support staff seeking to enter with the delegation. The American Immigration Council confirmed fans from Iran remain under an absolute B-2 tourist visa ban. If no visas are issued before June 15, Iran would face potential forfeiture — an unprecedented situation in World Cup history. FIFA has not publicly addressed what consequence mechanism would apply. 50 additional countries face a $15,000 USD visa bond requirement for tournament travel.