Iran’s sports minister said FIFA has assured Tehran that the national football team will receive visas to participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States despite ongoing regional tensions and the war in the Middle East.
Iran's participation in the global spectacle has been in question for months because it is being co-hosted by the U.S., which, along with Israel, began bombing Iran on Feb. 28, sparking a wider regional war.
"The FIFA president promised us that all our players would receive visas. There is no reason why our players should not receive visas," said Minister Ahmad Donyamali, quoted by local news agency ISNA.
"I hope that all the conditions will be met so that the national team can participate in the tournament in a calm and orderly manner."
The Iranian squad will now be based in Tijuana on the Mexican border with the United States during the tournament, according to the country's football federation.
