Summary
Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup but has faced many difficulties before the tournament. The Iranian team moved its training base from the US to Mexico because of visa problems and political tensions between Iran and the United States.
Key Facts
- Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup on March 25, 2025.
- US visas for Iranian players were only approved shortly before the tournament.
- Several Iranian staff members, including the head of Iran’s football federation, were denied US visas.
- Iranian players must enter and leave US territory on the same day as their matches.
- Iran moved its World Cup base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico.
- Iran will play group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle in the United States.
- Iran and the US have had hostile relations for over 40 years, with no formal diplomatic ties since 1979.
- Iran and the US previously played memorable World Cup matches in 1998 and 2022, with the possibility of meeting again in 2026.
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