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Iran says U.S. denied visas to key WC officials

ESPN · Jun 6, 2026, 8:21 PM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • The Iran Football Federation's secretary-general, Hedayat Mombeini, and its vice president, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, were among 14 backroom staff and officials without U.S.
  • It was unclear whether the federation's president, Mehdi Taj, had been issued a visa.
  • - Iran players: U.S. politics, war affect WC prep

Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.

The Iran Football Federation's secretary-general, Hedayat Mombeini, and its vice president, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, were among 14 backroom staff and officials without U.S. visas before games in Los Angeles and Seattle, according to Iranian state television.

It was unclear whether the federation's president, Mehdi Taj, had been issued a visa.

- Iran players: U.S. politics, war affect WC prep

Article preview — originally published by ESPN. Full story at the source.
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