Iran soccer team forced to leave US hours after World Cup matches over visa restrictions

U.S. officials required Iran's national football team to depart the United States within hours after each group‑stage match of the 2026 World Cup, which is being co‑hosted in Los Angeles and Seattle.

After a 2‑2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles, the squad left for its base in Mexico, spending only a brief night in California. Coach Amir Ghalenoei called the treatment a “logistical disaster” and said Iran was “the most oppressed team in World Cup history.”

Several support staff were denied entry, and player Mehdi Torabi’s original visa expired after the first match; a multiple‑entry visa was later issued, which the State Department said resolved the issue. Captain Mehdi Taremi and another player underwent extended security checks at LAX before flying back to Mexico.

The travel restrictions prompted criticism from Iranian diaspora protestors in the stadium and underscored ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran amid the wider conflict involving the two nations.