Mehdi Torabi played Iran's World Cup opener against New Zealand on Monday. Then his US visa expired. That's not a bureaucratic quirk — that's a player potentially locked out of the rest of the group stage by a diplomatic dispute that has nothing to do with football.
While every other Iranian national team player was issued a multiple-entry visa for the tournament, Torabi received only a single-entry. One trip in. Job done, visa gone. State news agency IRNA confirmed the situation Tuesday, adding that the Iranian Football Federation is working to secure him a new visa before Iran's next match.
A squad already operating under siege conditions
This isn't an isolated admin blunder. Around 15 members of Iran's delegation were denied US visas ahead of the tournament. Iran relocated its base to Mexico over security concerns and has been shuttling in and out of the country just to play group-stage games. Captain Mehdi Taremi and a staff member reportedly faced difficulties at Los Angeles airport on departure after the New Zealand draw.
The entire operation has the feel of a team trying to compete with one hand tied behind its back. IRNA noted that all squad members were on board the flight to Mexico after the match — but whether Torabi was among them with a valid visa or a ticking clock wasn't clarified.
The US and tournament organisers had not commented at time of writing.
What this means for Iran's Group G chances
Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in their opener — a result that keeps them in the hunt but demands improvement. They face Belgium on Sunday in Los Angeles, then Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. Both games are on US soil. Both require Torabi, if selected, to have valid entry documentation.
For a side navigating genuine geopolitical chaos just to show up, every selection decision now carries a layer of uncertainty that no other team at this World Cup is dealing with. Belgium's odds of taking three points on Sunday look increasingly comfortable — not because of Iran's quality on the pitch, but because of everything happening off it.
The Iranian Football Federation says it's handling it. They said the same thing about the 15 denied visas.
