With just weeks to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, Iran's national football team is facing a major off-field hurdle: securing U.S. visas. The clock is ticking, and tensions are rising.

Mehdi Taj, head of Iran's football federation, confirmed that no visas have been issued yet for Team Melli to enter the United States for the tournament. In a statement reported by state news agency IRNA, Taj said, "Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, we will have a decisive meeting with FIFA. They must give us guarantees, because the visa issue has still not been resolved." He added, "We have not received any account from the other side regarding who has been granted visas. No visas have been issued yet."

The visa process normally requires players to travel to Turkey's capital, Ankara, for fingerprinting. However, Taj is pushing for an alternative: "The players must travel to Ankara for fingerprinting, but we are trying to arrange for this to be done in Antalya, so there will be no need to travel to Ankara."

This diplomatic hurdle comes amid a complex backdrop. The U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, leading to a conflict that extended across the Gulf. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8, but diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington have been nonexistent since 1980, following the hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy and the Islamic revolution.

Despite the off-field drama, Team Melli is pressing ahead with preparations. Iran held a farewell ceremony in Tehran on Wednesday, sending off the squad with national pride. The team will be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, and their group-stage schedule is set: they open against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt in Group G.

For fans and players alike, the focus remains on the pitch, but these visa issues serve as a stark reminder that international football often involves more than just the game itself. As the world's biggest tournament approaches, all eyes will be on FIFA and U.S. officials to see if they can clear the path for Iran's World Cup dream.