Iran's football team was given a state farewell ceremony in Tehran this week, where chants of 'Death to America' rang out and Hezbollah flags were visible in the crowd, as players and officials expressed uncertainty over whether US visas would be granted in time for the World Cup.
The send-off featured the unveiling of Iran's official 2026 World Cup kit. Some players took the stage to speak of 'patriotism' in front of regime supporters.
'This is the best farewell ceremony in the last four World Cups. The players stand alongside the people, and the people stand alongside the country's dignity, honour and power,' said Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian Football Federation.
All three of Iran's group-stage matches are scheduled to be played in the US, and no visas have yet been issued. The Revolutionary Guards are designated a terrorist organization in both Canada and the US, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said people linked to the IRGC would not be permitted to enter.
'We have not yet received anything regarding the visas. We hope the issue will definitely be resolved,' said Heydat Mombini, the federation's secretary-general.
The team was already struggling before the war, having lost to both Uzbekistan and Russia. Four years ago, during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Iranians in several cities celebrated the team's defeats as a form of protest against the regime.