Iran prepares for World Cup under war, visa and political pressure

Iran’s World Cup build has been overtaken by politics, war and paperwork. While the tournament opens June 11 and runs through July 19 across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, Iran has been training in Antalya, Turkey, far from the conditions it expected when the campaign began.

Saeid Ezatolahi, who played in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, said the situation was not easy. The midfielder described how developments at home could weigh on players and supporters alike, a reminder that Iran’s preparation has taken place under far more strain than routine preseason travel. Professional soccer in Iran has been suspended since the outbreak of the war, leaving the national team to keep sharp in exile.

The logistical changes have been just as stark as the emotional ones. Iran’s federation shifted its planned base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, because of security and visa concerns. ESPN reported that the federation expected Mexican entry visas first and U.S. visas later in the week, while Mehdi Taj said the team would travel from Turkey to Tijuana after a stop in Spain. Players also traveled to Ankara to apply for visas at the U.S. Embassy, underscoring how travel clearance has become as central to Iran’s World Cup as tactics and fitness.

Iran’s first two matches will be played near Los Angeles, putting the squad in front of a large Iranian community that includes many people who oppose the current government. The team is scheduled to face New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Iran will be based in Mexico during the tournament, sleeping there and crossing into the United States on match days.

The political pressure has extended well beyond ordinary tournament security. Marco Rubio said the Iranian delegation would be monitored closely for anyone with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran had already sought guarantees over visas, enhanced security and respect for its flag and national anthem, including for officials with IRGC-linked military service. Media access around the squad has also been tightly limited, and the team rarely speaks to international journalists.

For Iran, the World Cup has become more than a test of football. It is a moving target shaped by war, host-country scrutiny and the demands of a global event that has rarely looked less insulated from geopolitics.