Prevented from entering the USA, president of the Iranian Football Federation joined the Revolutionary Guard

Iran's national team arrives in Mexico to compete in the World Cup
The president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, had his visa request denied by the United States authorities and will not be able to accompany the team during commitments held in the country.
This Sunday's Fantástico showed that Taj had already faced a similar situation last month, when he was left out of the FIFA Congress held in Vancouver, Canada.
The denial is related to the manager's history. Mehdi Taj was a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, a military force created after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and considered a terrorist organization by the governments of the United States and Canada.
Mehdi Taj, second from right, will not be able to enter the USA
Reproduction/Fantastic
Iranian team cannot sleep in the USA
According to the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, the visa granted to the 26 players from Iran only allows temporary entry into the United States to training and matches. The authorization does not include overnight stays in American territory. As a result, the team will have to return to Tijuana after each game or activity held in the USA.
The delegation arrived this Sunday 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.
Extreme heat
The 2026 World Cup will be played during the summer in the United States, a period marked by high temperatures, but also by frequent storms, lightning and intense rain. Due to these weather conditions, American authorities and FIFA are already preparing for possible stoppages of matches throughout the tournament.
SEE THE REPORT IN FULL
Weather could interfere with the progress of World Cup matches
Iran arrives in Mexico for the World Cup
Reproduction/Fantástico
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Source: G1