Iranian World Cup Team Touches Down in Mexico Amid Visa Dispute
WHO:
BBC News - Iran's World Cup football team, including players and staff.
Daily Mail Sports - President Trump mentioned in relation to the visa dispute.
WHAT:
Newser - Iran's World Cup team arrived in Mexico wearing gold-colored lapel pins with the number "168," representing the victims of a missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, Iran.
Newser - The missile strike occurred on February 28, killing 168 people, most of whom were children.
Newser - The Iranian delegation flew on a private jet from Antalya to Tijuana after a late change of plans to use Mexico as a training base instead of Tucson, Arizona.
Newser - Iran is scheduled to play its opening game against New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California.
Newser - Iran will return to Inglewood on June 21 to play Belgium and then head to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26.
Newser - If both Iran and the US finish second in their groups, they could meet in the round of 32 on July 3 at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium in Arlington, Texas.
BBC News - The Iranian World Cup football team has arrived in Mexico.
Daily Mail Sports - The team risks further conflict with Trump due to a defiant act after landing in Mexico.
Daily Mail Sports - The 2026 World Cup is set to begin later this week.
WHERE:
BBC News - The Iranian World Cup football team arrived in Mexico.
Daily Mail Sports - The team will have to fly in and out of the US for each of their games in the group stage.
WHEN:
Daily Mail Sports - The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to start later this week.
WHY:
Daily Mail Sports - The US has refused to issue visas to some members of Iran's staff, leading to a visa dispute.
HOW:
BBC News - The team is required to travel to the US for their games despite the visa issues.
(UPDATED June 9, 2026 04:21 UTC)
Iran's World Cup team has arrived in Mexico, wearing gold-colored lapel pins featuring the number "168," which honors the victims of a tragic missile strike on an elementary school in Minab that claimed the lives of 168 people, most of whom were children. The delegation flew on a private jet from Antalya to Tijuana after changing their training base plans from Tucson, Arizona. Iran is set to kick off its tournament against New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California, and if both Iran and the US finish second in their groups, they could face off in the round of 32 on July 3 at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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(UPDATED June 8, 2026 19:43 UTC)
Iran's World Cup football team has arrived in Mexico ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which is set to begin later this week. However, the team faces a visa dispute with the US, as some staff members have not received their visas, forcing the team to fly in and out of the US for each of their group stage games. President Trump has been mentioned in relation to this ongoing conflict, adding another layer of tension to the situation.