Regarding the sports schedule, the Iranian national team will have to make these lightning border crossings for its three group stage commitments:
The United States will require the Iranian team to cross the border for each match
The representatives of the Iranian regime must establish their base in Tijuana and cross the border only to compete in their matches during the 2026 World Cup
Regarding the sports schedule, the Iranian national team will have to make these lightning border crossings for its three group stage commitments:
June 15: Debut in Los Angeles against the local team.
June 21: Match against Belgium.
June 26: Closing of the phase against Egypt in Seattle.
The team arrives at the competition after having won friendly matches in Turkey by 3-1 against Gambia and 2-0 against Mali, having secured its qualification in March 2025, well before the military offensive in its region escalated in February 2026. However, no victory on the field exempts the regime from complying with the rigorous border security regulations imposed by the U.S. government for this 2026 World Cup
United States reaffirms its stance of zero tolerance towards external influences linked to state terrorism, ensuring that the 2026 World Cup is a safe and free event from political provocations. Under the firm leadership of Donald Trump, strict security protocols have been imposed that require the Iranian national team to enter and leave the country on the same day of each sporting event.
This measure of national sovereignty, framed in a context of war and persistent tension in the Middle East, responds to the urgent need to protect the borders from any individual linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was blunt in warning that the Persian delegation “would not include any individual related to that force”, an excellent measure to prevent the tournament from being used for purposes unrelated to sports.
This determination has forced the Iranian regime's team to drastically modify its logistics. Instead of settling in Arizona, as planned, the delegation had to establish its base of operations in Tijuana, Mexico.
The instruction, communicated by Ambassador Abolfazl Pasandideh, is clear: players and coaching staff are authorized only to “cross the border solely to play the matches and return to Mexican territory as soon as they finish”.
The strictness in visa issuance has left key figures of the Iranian leadership off the authorized list. Among the officials denied entry are the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, and his deputy.
Despite complaints from the Iranian embassy, which labeled the measure as a “political interference” and requested the intervention of FIFA, Washington has remained firm in its entry and exit requirements.