Iran soccer team departs for Mexico ahead of World Cup as some team officials denied U.S. visas, Iranian officials say

June 6, 2026 / 5:11 PM EDT

/ CBS/AP

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Iran's World Cup soccer team set off from Turkey for their training base in Mexico on Saturday, with some members of their entourage reportedly still without U.S. visas, before three group matches in the U.S. later this month.The Iranian Football Federation's secretary-general, Hedayat Mombeini, and its vice president, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, were among 14 backroom staff and officials without U.S. visas before games in Los Angeles and Seattle, according to Iranian state television.It was unclear whether the federation's president, Mehdi Taj, had been issued a visa.

Members of the Iranian national soccer team go through a security checkpoint as they arrive at Antalya Airport in Turkey for their departure to Mexico ahead of the World Cup. June 6, 2026.