Iran faces US visa hurdles ahead of World Cup clash with New Zealand

Iran's national team entered the 2026 World Cup under restrictive US visa policies. American authorities denied entry to most of the Iranian technical and administrative staff, limiting the delegation to a small group that could arrive only on the day of the matches. The team was forced to set up a base in Tijuana, Mexico, and travel to Los Angeles for each game, a logistical strain that officials described as a political retaliation.

The opening Group G match pits Iran against New Zealand on 15 June 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Iran arrives with striker Mehdi Taremi, who scored four goals in its recent friendlies, and a squad that qualified by winning 77% of its Asian qualifying matches. New Zealand, fresh from a Nations Cup victory and an unbeaten qualifying campaign, will line up with forward Chris Wood after mixed results in its preparatory friendlies. Both sides view the fixture as critical for advancing to the knockout stage, while Iran also seeks to demonstrate resilience despite the diplomatic obstacles imposed by the United States.