Iran's World Cup squad defies Donald Trump seconds after arriving in the US

Iran’s World Cup squad wasted no time in appearing to defy Donald Trump after arriving in North America, with players wearing symbolic badges linked to a deadly missile strike. Team Melli landed at Tijuana International Airport in Mexico on Sunday following a three-week training camp in Turkey.

Their arrival comes after Iran was forced to abandon plans to base itself in Arizona because of heightened tensions with the United States. Images from the team’s arrival showed players wearing pin badges bearing the number 168, commemorating the number of children killed when a missile strike hit a school in Minab on February 28. The Pentagon has not released details of the incident, saying only that it remains under investigation. Iran’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup have been overshadowed by a bitter diplomatic dispute with tournament co-hosts the United States. The team are set to begin their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 16 before facing Belgium and Egypt in further group-stage matches on the US West Coast.

Strict travel restrictions have also been imposed on the squad. Iranian officials say the team must travel into the United States for matches and leave again on the same day, while a number of delegation members have reportedly been refused entry altogether.

According to Iranian state television, Iran Football Federation secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini and vice-president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi are among 14 staff members denied US visas.

Iran’s envoy Abolfazl Pasandideh told reporters: “We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day.”

Mexico has stepped in to accommodate the team after the change of plans, with President Claudia Sheinbaum insisting there would be no issue with Iran remaining across the border.

She said: “We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico. The United States does not want the Iranian team to stay overnight, but they are going to play three matches there. So they asked us: ‘Can they stay overnight in Mexico?’ And we said: ‘Yes, no problem.’ We have no problem.”

Trump said: “The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

Although the US President has since softened his stance, the dispute surrounding Iran’s participation in a tournament partly hosted by a nation it is at war with has shown little sign of easing.

The latest disagreement erupted over the handling of visas, prompting a strongly worded response from the Iranian Embassy in Ankara after US ambassador Tom Barrack praised embassy officials for processing the team’s travel documents.

The embassy said: “You cannot whitewash conduct that violates FIFA regulations and breaches the United States’ host obligations merely by praising yourselves.

“Why do you not say that visas were denied to a large portion of the managerial and executive staff, technical advisers, and others who are an integral part of any national football team?

“You have now escalated the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level.”