Iran Slams US 'Discriminatory Treatment' as Visas Denied for 15 World Cup Delegation Members
Iranian authorities have condemned the United States for what they call 'discriminatory treatment' after 15 members of Iran's World Cup delegation, including the head of the football federation, were denied entry visas. The US granted visas to players but not to administrative staff.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 6, 2026 at 23:01
- 🔍 Collected: June 6, 2026 at 23:19 (18 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 23:20 (1 min after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Tehran, 6th, Comprehensive Foreign News) Iranian authorities on Tuesday slammed the United States, one of the three host nations of this year's World Cup, for 'discriminatory treatment' after denying entry visas to 15 members of the Iranian delegation, including the head of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Iranian national team has set up a training camp in Antalya, Turkey. A reporter for Iranian state television in the area stated: 'Visas for the Iranian national team and technical staff have been issued, but there are problems with the visas for 15 administrative staff members, which have not been granted by the United States.'
The US Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, had earlier stated that the US had issued visas for Iranian players but did not mention the unissued visas for administrative staff.
The Iranian Embassy in Turkey posted on social media platform X, questioning: 'Why don't you mention that visas have been denied for most of the management and administrative staff, technical advisors, and other personnel who are indispensable to any national football team?'
The Iranian Embassy in Turkey added: 'You have now escalated the deliberate discriminatory treatment against the Iranian national football team to the highest level.'
Iranian media, including the sports news site 'Varzesh3', reported on Tuesday that members of the Iranian delegation, including Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj and several administrative and analytical staff, had not received visas.
The Iranian national team had originally planned to base its World Cup training camp in Tucson, Arizona, USA, but later moved it to Tijuana, a border city in northwestern Mexico.
Iran will begin its World Cup campaign on November 16 in Los Angeles, first facing New Zealand, then continuing in Los Angeles to play Belgium, before heading to Seattle to face Egypt. (Translator: Gao Zhaofen / Editor: Liu Shuqin) 1150606
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Iranian national team has set up a training camp in Antalya, Turkey. A reporter for Iranian state television in the area stated: 'Visas for the Iranian national team and technical staff have been issued, but there are problems with the visas for 15 administrative staff members, which have not been granted by the United States.'
The US Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, had earlier stated that the US had issued visas for Iranian players but did not mention the unissued visas for administrative staff.
The Iranian Embassy in Turkey posted on social media platform X, questioning: 'Why don't you mention that visas have been denied for most of the management and administrative staff, technical advisors, and other personnel who are indispensable to any national football team?'
The Iranian Embassy in Turkey added: 'You have now escalated the deliberate discriminatory treatment against the Iranian national football team to the highest level.'
Iranian media, including the sports news site 'Varzesh3', reported on Tuesday that members of the Iranian delegation, including Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj and several administrative and analytical staff, had not received visas.
The Iranian national team had originally planned to base its World Cup training camp in Tucson, Arizona, USA, but later moved it to Tijuana, a border city in northwestern Mexico.
Iran will begin its World Cup campaign on November 16 in Los Angeles, first facing New Zealand, then continuing in Los Angeles to play Belgium, before heading to Seattle to face Egypt. (Translator: Gao Zhaofen / Editor: Liu Shuqin) 1150606
FAQ
Who in the Iranian delegation was denied a visa?
15 administrative staff members, including Iranian Football Federation President Mehdi Taj, were denied visas. Players and technical staff received visas.
Why did the US deny visas to the Iranian delegation?
The article does not state an official US reason. Iran has accused the US of 'discriminatory treatment'.
Where is the Iranian national team training for the World Cup?
Originally planned for Tucson, Arizona, the training camp was moved to Tijuana, Mexico.