Iran Trains for 2026 World Cup in Turkey as US Host Faces Wartime First
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 30
Iran Trains for 2026 World Cup in Turkey as US Host Faces Wartime First
6 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 30
Less than two weeks before the 2026 World Cup, Iran’s men’s team is training in Antalya, Turkey, for three matches on the U.S. West Coast despite uncertainty over its participation.
The limbo stems from late-February U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, creating what would be the first case in the tournament’s nearly 100-year history of a host nation being at war with a qualified team.
FIFA has said Iran will compete as planned, but the team’s place has become a major test for the governing body and for President Gianni Infantino, who is seen as close to President Trump.
Iranian officials used a meeting in Turkey this month with FIFA’s No. 2 official to press concerns over possible protests and, most urgently, whether players and staff will receive U.S. entry visas.
With no US visas and a star player dropped, is Iran's World Cup dream collapsing before it begins?
As a host nation wages war on a participant, can FIFA still guarantee a fair World Cup for all?
Iran’s 2026 World Cup Crisis: Visa Uncertainty, War, and the Future of Global Sports
Overview
Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup remains uncertain as unresolved US visa issues threaten their ability to compete. With the tournament just weeks away, the Iranian squad and staff have not yet received the required multiple-entry visas, despite attending appointments in Turkey and applying for both US and Canadian visas in anticipation of advancing. To address these challenges, Iran moved its training base from the United States to Mexico, hoping the new location near the US border will ease travel for matches. This situation highlights the complex intersection of sports, politics, and international relations at this year's World Cup.