TEHRAN: Iran has formally accused the United States of violating hosting standards and regulations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alleging discriminatory and politically motivated treatment of its national team throughout the tournament.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai condemned the host nation’s conduct as “political,” stating that the Iranian squad faced significant and inappropriate hurdles from the outset. “Several of the team’s coaches and football federation officials were not issued US visas,” Baqai said in a statement. “Obstacles in issuing visas were a major problem from the very beginning.”
The spokesman further revealed that the Iranian national team was housed in a location separate from the match venues, a logistical decision he described as contrary to standard hosting requirements and international sporting norms. “The Iranian team was treated in a manner inconsistent with hosting obligations,” he asserted.
Earlier, Iranian team captain Mehdi Taremi had also publicly criticized the United States over unfair treatment. The striker disclosed that FIFA had promised to intervene and resolve the visa and accommodation issues, but “nothing changed.” He added that the team’s logistics staff and media personnel were also unable to obtain US entry visas, severely hampering their support operations.
The diplomatic row comes after Iran’s elimination from the World Cup knockout stage. However, Tehran’s complaints focus on the broader principle of equal treatment under FIFA regulations, with Iranian officials insisting that sporting events must remain free from political interference and discriminatory practices.
