TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Iran has insisted that the United States, as host of the 2026 World Cup, is obliged to grant visas to the Iranian national football team regardless of the two countries' political differences.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said his government was making "every effort" to ensure that the Iranian national team could participate in the World Cup in the U.S. without any obstacles.
"Our players will travel to the United States solely for the World Cup," Baghaei said on Wednesday night, May 6, as reported by Mehr news agency, as quoted by ANTARA. He said the host country must have a clear commitment to ensure that visas for Iranian team members are issued "without considering political issues."
Baghaei also expressed his hope that FIFA would take the necessary steps "to maintain its credibility," calling the recent developments deeming the Iranian team "not worthy of FIFA." Iran, he said, would use "all available capacities" to facilitate its national team.
Referring to the absence of diplomatic relations between Iran and the U.S., Baghaei said that the Iranian Affairs Section in Washington — a small office under the auspices of the Pakistani Embassy — was ready to provide any necessary assistance.
When asked about Iran-U.S. peace negotiations, Baghaei declined to comment. "For now, we are focused on sports," he said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. Iran is scheduled to play two matches in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Regional tensions have escalated since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, to which Iran retaliated by attacking Israeli territory and U.S. military facilities in the Middle East and blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire went into effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a permanent agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump later extended the ceasefire indefinitely.
Read: NYC to Host Free FIFA World Cup Watch Parties Across Five Boroughs
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