Iran's World Cup squad seeks U.S., Canada visas in Turkey

Iran’s World Cup buildup hit a diplomatic checkpoint in Ankara, where the full squad attended visa appointments and every player applied for Canadian entry while some also filed for the United States. At least four Iranian footballers and one entourage member went to the U.S. embassy in the Turkish capital, underscoring how the 2026 tournament’s North American footprint has already turned paperwork into part of the preparation.

The timing matters because FIFA’s current schedule sends Iran to three group-stage matches in the United States: New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. Canada is not in Iran’s first-round path, but it becomes relevant if the team advances to the knockout rounds. That is why the Canadian visa process was treated as a necessary precaution even before kickoff.

The bureaucratic scramble also reflects the political weight hanging over this team’s journey. Iran and the United States cut diplomatic ties in 1980, leaving direct consular channels closed and pushing visa handling into a third country. Iran’s football federation had already said U.S. visa applications would be handled in Turkiye after discussions with FIFA, and the move to Ankara turned that plan into action.

The stakes are high on the field as well. Iran is seeking to reach the knockout stages for the first time after failing to get out of its group in all six of its previous World Cup appearances. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei is expected to name his final 26-man squad by FIFA’s June 1 deadline, after a May 29 friendly against Gambia. For a federation trying to balance training, selection and border clearances, the calendar is now as important as the lineup.

The broader context is a World Cup unlike any before it. The 2026 edition will be the first to feature 48 teams, and the final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, in New York New Jersey. The United States Department of State has said World Cup visa applicants should apply now, and it says the visa-bond requirement will be waived for athletes and team members from competing World Cup nations who meet all visa requirements. For Iran, the road to the knockout rounds begins not only with tactics and fitness, but with embassies, appointment slots and the pace of consular processing.