With just a month to go before the World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a major logistical hurdle has emerged for one of the participating nations. The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) has revealed that the U.S. has yet to issue visas to any members of the Iran national team, casting doubt on their ability to travel for the tournament.

"They haven't issued a visa to anyone yet, and it's taking a very long time," FFIRI president Mehdi Taj told broadcaster Nasim, expressing growing frustration as the deadline looms.

The team is set to travel to Turkey later this week for a 15-day training camp, hoping that a diplomatic solution can be found in the meantime. Taj added that he plans to meet with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafström to discuss the issue, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

This visa delay comes amid heightened tensions. Since late February, Iran has been involved in a military conflict with the U.S. and Israel, adding a complex geopolitical layer to what is already a high-stakes sporting event. Iran is scheduled to play all of their Group G matches—against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt—on U.S. soil.

Taj has also recently voiced sharp criticism of FIFA, setting conditions for Iran's participation. Among other demands, the nation insists on guarantees that no political comments will be directed at the team or the federation during matches. As the countdown to kickoff continues, all eyes will be on whether these diplomatic and bureaucratic hurdles can be cleared in time for the squad to take the pitch.