US President Donald Trump’s estrangement of certain countries continues to escalate, and there are now suggestions that he could ban players from one nation from entering the USA to compete at the 2026 World Cup. Football’s greatest tournament is little less than six months away, but several issues still need to be addressed.
The biggest problem heading into the competition – which will be held across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada – is that of travel bans and visa complications. Trump’s anti-tourism policies are exacerbated by the fact that 19 nations are on his “travel ban” list, and it remains unclear whether people from those countries will be allowed to attend matches in person.
It makes the fact that he was awarded the first-ever “FIFA Peace Prize” all the more remarkable, especially after his administration flirted with the idea of requiring visitors to show proof of their social media history from the past five years – a dystopian-style security measure. And while athletes were initially among a few notable exceptions to his travel bans, Iran have now been threatened with a complete prohibition.
Iran Players Could Be Denied Entry to the USA
Current restrictions seem to completely contradict FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s assurances that “fans from all over the world will be welcome” at the tournament. And while nations like Haiti are likely to be granted special exemptions, the situation for Iran – who are hoping to compete in their seventh World Cup – is far less ideal.
This week, Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj warned that some national team players and staff may be denied US visas for the World Cup due to their military backgrounds. Iran has compulsory military service for all men when they turn 19, and several national team players have served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite branch of the Iranian military.
However, in 2019 the U.S. government designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization. Taj warned, as per USA Today:
“We must prepare backup options for the World Cup. If, for any reason, a player is told they cannot travel, we must have replacements ready.”
Taj added that an Iranian assistant coach had been denied a visa to enter the US for last week’s draw, which was due to his service in the IRGC. “We protested to FIFA, they could have stood more firmly against the United States,” Taj said. “Saeed Elhayi, a member of the coaching staff, was denied a visa due to the location of his military service.”
FIFA did not respond to a request for comment, and among the players likely affected by the visa restrictions is captain Mehdi Taremi. The exclusion of the Olympiacos striker, who has also played for Inter and Porto, among others, would be a major blow.
A US State Department Spokesperson has Released a Statement
In a statement provided to Pro Soccer Wire, a US State Department spokesperson did not rule out the possibility that Iranian players could see their visas denied. The statement read:
“The Trump Administration is committed to doing everything we can to support a successful World Cup. At the same time, the administration will not waver in upholding U.S. law and the highest standards of national security and public safety in the conduct of our visa process.”
It added: “We adjudicate each visa application on a case-by-case basis after rigorous review and thorough vetting to determine whether the individual is eligible under U.S. law.”
Iran was drawn into Group G at the World Cup alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Team Melli will play two group stage games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, though the strength of their final 26-man squad remains to be seen.
