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.