US immigration policy means thousands of Iranian supporters are likely to miss the 2026 World Cup, with visa restrictions also threatening the participation of some members of Iran’s own national team.
The United States has confirmed it will not grant visas to most Iranian fans hoping to attend the 2026 World Cup, citing existing travel bans that target Iranian residents and, in particular, those who have completed military service in organizations Washington classifies as “unauthorized” or “unendorsed.” Reports indicate that while exemptions exist on paper for athletes and essential staff, fans inside Iran are highly unlikely to obtain entry visas, effectively shutting them out of matches hosted in US cities.
The impact of these rules is already visible at official events, with Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj among those refused a US visa for the World Cup draw in Washington, where Iran initially threatened a boycott after only a fraction of its delegation was approved. Iranian officials have warned that players or staff with similar military backgrounds could also be barred, forcing the national team to prepare potential replacements and adding a political edge to the tournament months before a ball is kicked.
