Iranian national team winger Mehdi Torabi (31) has resolved his visa issues, allowing him to fully participate in the remaining schedule of the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup qualifiers in North America.
ESPN reported on Wednesday that Torabi received a new multiple-entry visa following negotiations between the Iranian Football Association and FIFA.
In February, due to ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, the Iranian national team was forced to relocate their World Cup training base from Tucson, Lizzona to Tijuana, Mexico.
The challenge lies in Iran’s Group J schedule, which requires them to play all three of their group stage matches on U.S. soil.
This arrangement meant the Iranian squad had to travel from Mexico to the U.S. just a day before each match and depart immediately after the game.
Following their 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their group opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on the 16th, the team promptly returned to Mexico.
With upcoming matches against Belgium on June 22 and Egypt on June 27, the team faces a tight travel schedule between the U.S. and Mexico. Initially, Torabi’s single-entry visa posed a significant hurdle, potentially preventing his re-entry to the U.S.
Fortunately, the issuance of a multiple-entry visa now allows Torabi to continue traveling with the Iranian squad.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed that it quickly addressed Torabi’s visa situation to ensure his participation in all matches. The issue has been successfully resolved.
Torabi, who has netted 7 goals in 52 international appearances, is set for his third World Cup campaign, having previously featured in the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar tournaments. He was an unused substitute in the recent match against New Zealand.