Iranian World Cup Players Can Enter US the Day Before Matches: DHS

The World Cup begins on June 11 and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino told an audience in Los Angeles the tournament would be akin to staging ‘104 Super Bowls.’

Iran's soccer team poses for a photo before an Asian group A qualifying soccer match against North Korea for the 2026 World Cup at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, on June 10, 2025. Vahid Salemi/AP Photo

Iran’s national soccer team will ‌be allowed to enter the United States the day before each of their three World Cup group matches, the U.S. Department of ‌Homeland Security (DHS) said on June 9.

The Iranians play their first two matches—against ​New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21—in Los Angeles, and then travel to Seattle for a match with Egypt on June ​26.