Team Melli’s preparations were thrown into disarray by geopolitics. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Team Melli’s preparations were thrown into disarray by geopolitics. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Tension between the United States and Iran is continuing in sport. Iran's World Cup squad landed in Mexico on June 7 under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic dispute. With some members of the entourage still lacking U.S. visas. The dispute comes just days before the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup on June 11, which is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The dispute erupted just days before Thursday’s kick-off.

All of Iran's group games are in the US, but players and support staff will have to fly in and out of the country on match day.

All of Iran's group games are in the US, but players and support staff will have to fly in and out of the country on match day.

Iran's World Cup squad is expected to arrive in Mexico early Sunday under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington, after the United States refused to issue visas for some team support staff.

Iranian state TV said the players and their technical staff had received visas, but 15 others on the administrative and management side had not.

Iranian state TV said the players and their technical staff had received visas, but 15 others on the administrative and management side had not.