Iran winger Mehdi Torabi is facing an uncertain future at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after his United States visa expired following Team Melli's opening Group G match — a 2-2 draw against New Zealand on Monday in Los Angeles.

State news agency IRNA confirmed that Torabi had been granted only a single-entry visa, unlike his teammates who received multiple-entry visas for the tournament. "Following the national team's trip to Los Angeles for the match against New Zealand and the conclusion of that game, Torabi's visa has now expired," IRNA reported.

The Iranian Football Federation has since moved to secure a new visa for Torabi so that he may remain with the squad for their remaining group-stage fixtures. It remains unclear whether he will be granted one in time.

Torabi's status amid Iran's wider visa crisis

The visa issue is not an isolated case. Iranian officials previously disclosed that around 15 members of the delegation had been denied US visas altogether, with the Iranian squad forced to relocate its base to Mexico over security concerns — travelling into the United States only for each scheduled group match.

IRNA also reported that captain Mehdi Taremi and a staff member encountered difficulties at Los Angeles airport during the squad's departure after the New Zealand draw. The agency noted that all players were on board the aircraft leaving the US for Mexico after the match, though it stopped short of confirming Torabi's departure status.

The complications stem from a diplomatic breakdown between Tehran and Washington, rooted in the ongoing Middle East conflict. The two nations have since agreed a framework to end hostilities, but the fallout continues to overshadow Iran's participation in the tournament.

What comes next for Team Melli

Iran face Belgium in their second Group G fixture on Sunday in Los Angeles, before taking on Egypt on 26 June in Seattle. Neither the United States government nor tournament organisers had commented on the visa situation at the time of reporting.