Iranian Soccer Team Arrives in Mexico for FIFA World Cup Amid Controversy

On Saturday, a rally in Toronto marked Al Quds Day, where shadows were cast on the Iranian state flag. The Iranian men’s soccer team touched down in Mexico on Sunday. They arrived just days before the FIFA World Cup begins. The team shared images on Instagram, showing them in matching white shirts and blue blazers as they boarded a plane in Antalya, Turkey. The team had been preparing in Turkey for the tournament, which is being jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

After arriving in Tijuana, Mexico, the team shared photos of their arrival with a caption saying, “hi Mexico.” Originally, Iran planned to train in Arizona but changed plans due to visa issues. In May, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum invited the team to train in Mexico. Iran is in Group G and will face New Zealand in Inglewood, California, on June 15. Their subsequent matches will be against Belgium in Inglewood on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran’s participation in the World Cup was uncertain following U.S. and Israeli military actions against the country in late February. President Trump initially expressed concerns about the team’s participation for safety reasons. The Iranian team opposed Trump’s comments, noting that FIFA is responsible for organizing the event, not the U.S. By April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Iranian players would be allowed entry into the U.S., but others in their entourage, especially members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), might not receive entry clearance.

The New York Times reported recently that while the players gained entry visas, over a dozen team support staff members, including coaches and medical personnel, were denied. Notably, Mehdi Taj, the head of the Iranian soccer federation and a former IRGC commander, was also not granted a visa.