During an Al Quds Day rally in Toronto, protesters cast shadows onto an Iranian state flag on Saturday, March 14, 2026. This event marked a politically charged moment as the Iranian men’s soccer team made their way to the FIFA World Cup.

The Iranian soccer team arrived in Mexico on Sunday, preparing for the tournament that starts in four days. The team shared images on Instagram of themselves in coordinated white shirts and blue blazers, ready to board a plane in Antalya, Turkey, on Saturday. They had been training in Turkey before traveling to Mexico, which, along with Canada and the U.S., is co-hosting the World Cup.

On Sunday afternoon, the team shared photos of their arrival in Tijuana, Mexico, captioning the images, “hi Mexico.” Initially planning to train in Arizona, the team had to change course due to visa issues. In May, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum offered to host the team, facilitating their preparations.

Iran is in Group G and will compete against New Zealand in its first match of the group stage in Inglewood, California, on June 15. They will face Belgium in Inglewood on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran’s participation in the World Cup was uncertain due to military actions by the U.S. and Israel against Iran in late February. President Trump commented that it was not “appropriate” for Iran to compete amid safety concerns. However, the Iranian team countered these statements in March by highlighting that FIFA, not the U.S., organizes the event.

In April, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iranian players are welcome in the U.S., although others in their traveling party may not be. Specifically, members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) will be denied entry.

The New York Times reported that while Iranian players were granted U.S. visas, more than a dozen support staff members were denied entry. This group could include coaches, trainers, analysts, and medical staff. Additionally, the visa of Mehdi Taj, a former IRGC commander and current president of the Iranian soccer federation, was also denied.