Iran striker Mehdi Torabi gets new US visa after single-entry permit expires mid-tournament
Mehdi Torabi's single-entry US visa expired after Iran's opening World Cup match in Los Angeles, leaving him unable to re-enter the country. A team official confirmed on Tuesday that a new visa has been issued, clearing him for the remainder of the tournament.
The visa breakdown
Iranian forward Mehdi Torabi was left in limbo after his US visa expired following the team's first Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles. Unlike his teammates, who received multiple-entry permits before the tournament began, Torabi's visa was valid for only a single entry, according to the official Iranian news agency Irna. The expiration occurred after the squad travelled to Los Angeles for the opener, and Torabi did not feature in that match, which Iran drew after coming from behind twice.
After the team's trip to Los Angeles for the match against New Zealand and at the conclusion of this match, Torabi's visa expired.
The Iranian Football Federation immediately began procedures to secure a new visa so the attacker could join the national team for its remaining group-stage fixtures. On Tuesday, a team official confirmed those efforts had succeeded, announcing that Torabi had received a new visa allowing him to participate in the rest of the World Cup.
Broader delegation friction
The visa issue is not an isolated incident. Around 15 members of the Iranian delegation were denied US visas outright, Irna reported. Captain Mehdi Taremi and a staff member also encountered difficulties at Los Angeles airport at the time of their departure. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei described his team as "oppressed," citing last-minute changes to travel arrangements caused by the war the United States and Israel launched against Iran in late February.
We are oppressed.
The federation had originally planned to base the squad in Tucson, Arizona, but shifted its camp to Tijuana, Mexico, because of the geopolitical context. That means Team Melli must cross into the United States for each of its three group matches and return to Mexico afterward, a logistical arrangement that compounds the visa uncertainty.
What comes next
Iran hopes Torabi will be available for the match against Belgium, scheduled for Sunday in Los Angeles, the team's second Group G outing. A third fixture against Egypt follows on 26 June in Seattle. Torabi did not enter the game against New Zealand, where Iran trailed twice before salvaging a draw. The new visa clears the way for him to contribute in the two remaining group-stage contests.
- Iran plays New Zealand in Los Angeles; Torabi's visa expires after the match
- Iranian federation confirms visa renewal efforts; new visa announced later the same day
- Match against Belgium scheduled in Los Angeles (Torabi expected to be available)
- Match against Egypt scheduled in Seattle
Geopolitical backdrop
The visa complications sit inside a tense diplomatic environment. The US and Israel initiated military action against Iran in late February 2026, and the Iranian football delegation has felt the effects throughout its World Cup preparations. Staff faced long waits for visa approvals, and some members of the coaching setup never received theirs. Ghalenoei said the team was forced to return directly to Mexico after the New Zealand match rather than staying overnight in the US as planned. The tournament organisers and US authorities did not immediately comment on the visa situation.
