Iran Football Squad Files US World Cup Visas in Ankara

(MENAFN) Iran's national football team took a significant step toward World Cup participation Thursday, submitting visa applications at the US Embassy in Ankara as preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup accelerated, local media reported.

The tournament — co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico — is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, with tens of thousands of athletes, officials, and fans expected to converge on North American venues.

Members of the Iranian squad made their way to the Turkish capital to complete the necessary documentation, in a politically charged procedural step given the current state of US-Iran relations. As players exited the embassy, they responded to reporters' questions about whether their applications had been approved with smiles — but no words.

The team has been based in Antalya, the Turkish resort city on the Mediterranean coast, since May 19 for a pre-tournament training camp.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, first vice president of the Iranian Football Federation, had previously confirmed the Ankara trip was in the pipeline, stating the delegation would complete both US and Canadian visa procedures for all squad members in the Turkish capital. He added that several Iran-eligible players based at foreign clubs were also expected to join the group for the visa process and related administrative formalities.

No official confirmation on the status of the applications had been issued at the time of reporting.

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