A growing concern surrounds the football team Iran a few months later World Cup 2026. Although the team has secured its classification and knows who its rivals will be, in Group G (Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand) the There is a possibility that several of his football players will not be able to enter the USA threatens to completely disrupt their preparation. The matter is not sporting, but diplomatic: the Immigration restrictions imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump would prevent the participation of military service graduates in bodies not recognized by Washington or considered terrorist groupsas the Revolutionary Guard Iranian.
The President of the Football Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) himself, Mehdi Tajconfirmed that some players and members of the coaching staff may not be able to travel, an issue they already faced when drawing the World Cup zone configuration. “We need to prepare alternatives for the World Cup. If for any reason a player is informed that he cannot take part, We have to have replacements ready“, he said on state television.
One of the most delicate cases is that of Mehdi TaremiOlympiacos striker and former Porto and Inter player who, among other things, completed military service in the Revolutionary Guard. Under United States law: This background can be a reason for the refusal of the visa.Since 2019, this military organization has been considered a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department.
It should be noted that due to the war between Iran and Israel at the time, Taremi was no longer able to play for Inter in a major tournament, the Club World Cup. Now his absence from the national team would be a sporting and symbolic blow for a country that wants to get past the group stage of a World Cup for the first time. Taremi made his national team debut in 2015 and has continued to gain since then 100 games and marked 54 goals. From 33 yearstoday is usually the captain and leader, with the number 9 on his back. He is the one who scored a brace against Uzbekistan earlier in the year that secured qualification.
Your situation is not isolated. In Iran, Military service is compulsory for all men aged 18 and overand can serve in the regular army or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. And any connection with her can be a reason for refusing a visa.
Several cases among the team’s regular players raise concerns. The defender Hossein Kanaanizadeganfrom 31 yearscompleted his military service through a loan move to the Malavan club, which plays in the Iranian Pro League, a common route for placing recruits with teams linked to the military system. The extreme Alireza Jahanbakhshfrom 32 yearstoday in Feyenoord, the Netherlands, performed “alternative military service” in connection with playing football for Zob Ahan – also a participant in the Iranian League – and fulfilled his obligation. Meanwhile the striker Sardar Azmounfrom 30 years and who operates in Shabab Al-Ahli from the United Arab Emirates, faced tense situations due to his political ties and military situation: although he had exemptions due to his international career, his eligibility to enter the United States is not guaranteed.
The Iranian federation has not published a list of players at risk, but it has publicly acknowledged that any footballer with a history in military organizations not recognized by Washington could be excluded. Uncertainty remains and more names are expected to emerge as the visa process progresses.
Tehran’s fear does not arise from a remote hypothesis. During the World Cup draw in Washington, a member of the coaching staff, Saeed Elhayi, was unable to enter the country for this reason. Taj protested against this Fifa: “They could have confronted the United States more decisively. Elhayi was denied a visa due to where he served in the military.”
Although a presidential proclamation was signed in June this year allows exceptions for athletes and participants in international sporting eventsUS authorities made it clear that visa applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. A Foreign Ministry spokesman said this in a statement to the media Pro Soccer Wire: “We will not shirk our responsibility to protect national and public security when conducting our visa process.” We carefully and thoroughly review each application to determine whether the individual is eligible under U.S. law.“.
The decision will also have an impact on fans. Iran is one of 19 countries covered by the immigration ban reactivated by Trump in June, which prevents the issuance of visas to Iranian citizens except in very limited cases. “Iranians residing in the country are unlikely to receive visas to attend the national team’s games in the United States“Agreed, Taj. The Asian team will play two games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
The news caused disappointment among fans. “I’m disappointed. I thought it would be easier to get a visa because it’s the World Cup.”Amir Hosein, 38, told EFE agency. For 45-year-old Hamid, who took part in Qatar in 2022, the World Cup is about “a unique experience”. “I want to be in the USA because I think we can reach the round of 16,” he said, not giving up hope.
It is not the first time that Iranian football has faced such obstacles. In October, Due to the visa denial, the polo team was unable to compete in Virginia.
It should be recalled that in June, the United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities as part of a short war with Israel, which intensified the already extensive rivalry between the American country and the Persian country. The Iranian federation also recently questioned FIFA for scheduling the confrontation with Egypt scheduled for June 26 in Seattle, as the “LGBTQ+ Pride Party“Homosexual relationships are punishable in Iran.” Both we and Egypt are protesting. It seems to be a decision that supports a certain group. We will definitely look into this matter,” Taj said.
Additionally, the World Cup Organizing Committee in Seattle recently issued a statement confirming that the planned activities will take place outside of Lumen Field stadium. “Continue as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament,” Hana Tadesse, vice president of communications, urged in the text. “Football has the unique power to unite people across borders, cultures and faiths. We are committed to ensuring that all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect and dignity that define our region,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Iranian football team must prepare a squad riddled with insecurity and uncertainty over who can cross the border. Although FIFA insists that all teams be represented and that sporting events must take place above political tensions, its ability to influence host countries when it comes to immigration laws and national security is limited. First the organization remains silent in the face of Iranian allegations and avoids commenting publicly on possible exceptions or guarantees.
The case of Iran shows how, in times of growing multipolarity, foreign policy decisions are no longer based only on multilateral agreements, but on internal security and interest calculations. This case is not just about a visa, but about the right to equal competition. The World Cup thus appears to be a stage on which not only the national teams are tested, but also the Limits of football as a neutral territory in an increasingly fragmented world.
Against this backdrop, for Iran the World Cup begins before the first game and is also played at the desks: a race against time to find out whether the country will have its best players or whether diplomatic decisions will ultimately determine its sporting performance.
Why are the Revolutionary Guards an obstacle?
The main obstacle for Iranian footballers is not the fact that they completed military service, but the institution in which they did it. Since 2019, the US government has considered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a foreign terrorist organization, affecting any citizen associated with it, even if it is mandatory.
The IRGC is a Force parallel to the regular Iranian army and responds directly to the supreme leader, with strong military, political and economic clout in the country. It runs the ballistic missile program, runs intelligence units and has ties to armed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. His involvement in extraterritorial actions and regional conflicts has led to Washington deeming him a threat to national security. For this reason, any player who has a history in the IRGC will be automatically screened, beyond their role and the mandatory nature of their recruitment.
About The Author
