Iran's national team faces unprecedented logistical obstacles at the 2026 World Cup due to US visa restrictions. Players and staff are allowed to enter the United States only on the day of their matches, with immediate departure required afterward.
The Iranian Football Federation relocated the team's training base from the planned USA location to Mexico. Additionally, some members of the Iranian delegation failed to obtain US visas, further hindering campaign preparation.
Coach Amir Galeneoi acknowledged the challenges: 'Preparation has been difficult. We first planned to base in the US, then had to move to Mexico—we changed locations twice with minimal adaptation time. But we're grateful to Mexico for their help. We are used to extracting benefits from difficulties. Now we focus only on football.'
Iran competes in Group G with New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. The disrupted preparation and fragmented access to American soil may affect Iran's early group performance, particularly in opening matches against New Zealand and Egypt where cohesion and rhythm are critical.
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