Iran delegation faces problems leaving the USA after first World Cup match

Mehdi Torabi (front) during the warm-up of the match against New Zealand.
Gary Vasquez / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters
After playing their close match in the 2026 World Cup against New Zealand in Los Angeles, the Iranian national team faced difficulties in keeping the squad unified due to problems with American immigration authorities, Iranian agencies Isna and Fars reported this Tuesday (16).
The national team Iranian team drew with New Zealand on Monday night (15).
The most complex case involves striker Mehdi Torabi. Unlike the rest of the group, who received multiple entry visas for American territory, the document issued to Torabi was valid for single entry.
According to the agencies, the Iranian Football Federation has started legal procedures to try to issue a new authorization and ensure that the athlete can accompany the team in the next games.
As the delegation prepared to leave Los Angeles for Tijuana, Mexico, striker Mehdi Taremi and member of the technical committee Saeid Alhouei were detained at the airport.
Trump government informed that the Iranian team will be able to enter American territory just 36 hours before each match
While the rest of the squad had already boarded, the pair faced an "unjustified delay" in the final immigration check and clearance procedures, Iranian agencies reported. Representatives of the federation and local authorities continue negotiations at the airport. Until the publication of this article, there was no information confirming the attacker's boarding.
Permanence vetoed
The USA had already announced that the team could not remain in the country for the entire World Cup. According to the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, the visa granted to the 26 players only allows temporary entry into the United States for training and matches.
The delegation arrived on June 7 in Tijuana, Mexico, where it will be concentrated during the first phase of the competition.
Initially, the team planned to stay in Tucson, Arizona, as it will play its first three games in the United States. However, the war that began after coordinated bombings by American and Israeli forces against Iran changed the entire team's logistics.
On June 9, two days before the start of the World Cup, the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) announced that its ticket quota for the competition had been withdrawn by the United States.
The decision left fans who had already made travel plans unable to attend the Iranian team's matches.
Iranian fans celebrated the draw against Nova Zealand.
Matthew Childs / Reuters

Source: G1