Iran Players Receive US Visas — 14 Officials Denied; Federation Accuses US of 'Vindictive Behavior'; Squad Departs Antalya for Tijuana; 5 Days to Group G Opener

In the most consequential development of Iran's months-long World Cup visa crisis, the White House confirmed on June 6 that Iran's players and core athletic staff have received US visas — clearing the squad to enter the United States for their Group G matches. However, 14 key backroom staff and officials were denied entry, including secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini and vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, prompting Iran's Football Federation to accuse the United States of 'vindictive behavior.' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintained that the concern was specifically with individuals with alleged ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stating the process had been completed for athletes and support staff without such connections. Iran's squad departed their 15-day training camp in Antalya, Turkey at 6:30 PM local time on June 6, boarding a charter flight for Tijuana, Mexico with a brief stopover in Spain. Iran will base at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana and commute across the US-Mexico border for their Group G matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (June 15 vs New Zealand; June 21 vs Belgium) and Lumen Field in Seattle (June 26 vs Egypt). The visa approval for players — coming 10 days before their opening match — ends the most acute phase of the crisis, though the denial of 14 officials creates a significant operational challenge. Iran's federation president Mehdi Taj had submitted passports to the US Embassy in Ankara on June 5 and warned FIFA that denial would mean 'reconsideration of participation.' The approval averts what would have been an unprecedented World Cup forfeiture. 5 days to kickoff at Estadio Azteca.