World Cup 2026 Mehdi Torabi: World Cup 2026: Visa expired after just one game for Iran Footballer Mehdi Torabi who is linked to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-IRGC, attended pro-government rallies in Tehran after US-Israel strikes
The Iranian national team travels from its tournament base in the Mexican border city of Tijuana for three World Cup group stage matches, the first two in Los Angeles and the third in Seattle.
“While multiple-entry visas were issued for team players to travel to the United States, Torabi’s visa was valid for only one entry,” an FFIRI spokesperson said.
“His visa expired after the team went to Los Angeles for the New Zealand match and after the match was completed.
“The Iranian Football Federation has taken action to obtain a new visa for Torabi so that he can continue to accompany the national team in the upcoming matches.”
Iran’s next group match is against Belgium on Sunday, and Torabi will need a new visa by Saturday at the latest to join the team for the trip to California.
During anti-government protests in 2019, Torabi wore a T-shirt on the field during a club match that read: “The only way to save the country is to obey the leadership.”
Who is Mehdi Torabi?
The 31-year-old was also a regular at nightly pro-government rallies held in Tehran’s Valiasr Square after US and Israeli airstrikes on the Islamic Republic triggered a regional conflict in late February.
The US government classifies the IRGC as a “terrorist entity” and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said he will not allow anyone with ties to the elite military force to enter the country with the players.
Iran’s World Cup team chief Mehdi Mohammad Nabi was among 15 FFIRI officials who were denied visas to travel to the United States for World Cup matches.
This would be the first World Cup in which the host nation acknowledged a country it was at war with until a peace deal was announced just 24 hours before Monday’s match.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei said the travel chaos resulting from tensions between Iran and the US had “pressured” his players and affected their performance against New Zealand.
