According to the national team's media department, while most Team Melli players were issued multiple-entry visas for travel to the United States, midfielder Mehdi Torabi received only a single-entry visa. After the team traveled to Los Angeles for the match against New Zealand and that fixture concluded, Torabi's visa expired. The Iranian Football Federation has since initiated steps to have the visa reissued so that the player can rejoin the squad for the remainder of the World Cup campaign.

Torabi sustained an injury during the training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, and was not fully fit for Tuesday's match against New Zealand. The injury, however, was not serious, and he would have been available for selection in Iran's next group-stage encounter against Belgium, also in Los Angeles.

Denying a player re-entry into the United States raises serious concerns and can be viewed as another provocation that undermines Iran's right to compete on a fair and equal footing. Such administrative hurdles, whether intentional or not, disrupt team preparation and cast a shadow over the integrity of the tournament's logistical arrangements.

It is worth noting that Torabi has been a polarizing figure among Iranian fans, particularly in the wake of the nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. During that period, Torabi was one of several players who drew public criticism—and in some cases, physical hostility—for his perceived support of the establishment. He was reportedly pelted with stones on multiple occasions in domestic stadiums.

Whether the visa issue is in any way connected to those events remains unclear. The U.S. government rarely provides detailed explanations for visa denials or revocations, typically citing national security or public safety concerns without elaborating further. In Torabi's case, no official reason has been given, leaving the matter open to speculation.

Following a temporary order issued by the Ethics Committee of the Football Federation, Behzad Dadashzadeh has been banned from all football and futsal activities for 20 days. The suspension will remain in effect while allegations he made regarding the national team are investigated.

According to ISNA, Dadashzadeh—a former player for Team Melli, Esteghlal, and Persepolis—recently claimed that the process of selecting players for the national football team has been influenced by financial transactions, suggesting that some players pay to receive call-ups. It is these claims that prompted the Ethics Committee’s interim ruling.

In a statement last week regarding the national team squad, Dadashzadeh said: “We must respect and support Ghalenoei’s current squad. I have told the coaching staff and my good friends that we need to give young players a chance to secure their football future. What goes on behind the scenes, however, is another matter. I have heard there have been fights and arguments at the Olympic Hotel over the squad list.

The fact that a few brokers have pressured the national team’s coaching staff to include their own players is questionable, though I cannot make a definitive judgment. Take Ehsan Hajsafi, for example—he is a separate case. He voted for Mehdi Taj in the Football Federation presidential election and, in return, secured his place on the national team. That is, he became a permanent fixture in the squad.

That said, most players invited to Team Melli have not performed badly in the league, to be honest. But Aref Aghasi’s invitation is debatable—given his performances at Esteghlal, it is unclear why he should have been among those called up. Back when we were playing, there was a lot of infighting, and some players resorted to lobbying just to make it to the World Cup.”

Allegations of under-the-table payments, excessive influence of player agents, and political maneuvering within football have persisted for many years. It is an open secret that such practices remain widespread. Dadashzadeh is far from the first person to expose this, but history shows that none of these claims are ever investigated by an independent counsel—for the simple reason that any real inquiry would expose many powerful figures.

Dadashzadeh, as a football veteran, has strong opinions about the state of various teams and the management of Iranian football. He has criticized the performance of the Persepolis team and its management and has emphasized the need for changes in this area. Behzad Dadashzadeh, with a rich history in Iranian football, continues to be recognized as an influential figure in the sport, and his opinions on Iranian football are taken into account.

In hindsight, looking at the current Team Melli squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even casual fans—let alone experts—might find reasons to suspect that Dadashzadeh has a point or two.

By Emily Green

June 5 (Reuters) - Iran's World Cup soccer players have been granted visas to enter the United States, a White House official told Reuters on Friday, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles amid a conflict between the two countries.

Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said late on Thursday the squad had still not received their U.S. visas, but these were granted overnight, the White House official said.
A spokesman for Iran's World Cup federation could not immediately be reached for comment.

The U.S. had not yet issued visas to some members of the Iran team's technical and administrative staff, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday.

"Visas for some members of the national team's technical and executive staff have not yet been issued, and the U.S. embassy has so far refused to issue them," it said, without citing a source.

Iran's Full Squad List: Team Melli Squad FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada, US, Mexico - Team Melli

The Iran war has turned the World Cup – the biggest global sporting event – into a geopolitical contest, with both sides appearing to use the tournament for political posturing.

It is the first World Cup, since its inception in 1930, in which a host nation is set to receive a country it is at war with.

Tehran negotiated a last-minute move of the team's base from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico due to the visa issues and a growing feeling in Iran that the squad’s presence in the United States should be kept to a minimum.

They are scheduled to land in Tijuana early on Sunday.

Iran are due to play their first Group G match on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, where they will also face Belgium before taking on Egypt in Seattle.

The U.S. had never formally said it did not want the Iran team to stay on its territory, ambassador Pasandideh said.

However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that the U.S. would not allow Iran to include in its World Cup delegation individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, a powerful branch of the Iranian armed forces.

Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's soccer federation, was denied entry for the tournament draw in Washington in December. He is a former commander in the Revolutionary Guards.

Iran's desire to compete in the World Cup underscored its efforts to reach a resolution in the war with Washington, Pasandideh said.

"Iran's participation in the World Cup -- even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy -- shows that Iran seeks peace," Pasandideh said, speaking through a Spanish interpreter at the Iranian embassy in Mexico City.

Progress in peace talks between Iran and the U.S. has been slow, with both sides seemingly inching toward an interim agreement even as they continue to carry out military strikes.