Iran FA Chief Taj: Squad Departs for Spain on June 7, Then Tijuana — Expects US Visas 'Quickly'; Still Zero Issued With 9 Days to Kickoff

Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj announced on June 2 that Iran's World Cup squad will depart Iran for Spain on Saturday June 7 — where they will hold a brief training camp — before proceeding to Tijuana, Mexico, in a contingency travel plan designed to bridge the ongoing US visa crisis. Taj stated that Mexican visas for the delegation are expected to be issued by June 3–4, with US entry visas expected to follow 'quickly' thereafter. However, as of June 2, not a single US entry visa has been issued to any Iranian delegation member — 9 days before their June 15 Group G opener vs New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Spain stopover adds a logistical buffer: Iran avoids direct travel from Iran (which has no US diplomatic channel) to Mexico, routing instead through a neutral third country. Iran's base camp at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana remains fully operational. FIFA has provided written guarantees that visas will be issued; the US State Department has given no confirmed timeline, with Secretary Rubio's stated concern being IRGC-linked support staff rather than athletes. If US visas are not resolved before June 15, Iran faces potential forfeiture — an unprecedented situation in World Cup history with no clear precedent or resolution mechanism. Iran's Group G schedule: SoFi Stadium (June 15 vs New Zealand; June 21 vs Belgium), Lumen Field Seattle (June 26 vs Egypt). 9 days to kickoff at Estadio Azteca.