Iran's World Cup Team Needed State Department Permission to Enter the U.S.

Iran's football team arrived in Los Angeles on June 14 for the 2026 World Cup after securing visas through diplomatic channels—requiring State Department approval rather than standard processing. With no formal U.S.-Iran relations since 1980, entry for Iranian nationals remains administratively complex. Iran plays New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21, illustrating how host-country tensions now shape tournament logistics.