Four members of Iran's World Cup delegation have successfully appealed against the rejection of their US visa applications, while 11 others remain barred from entering the country for the tournament.
The dispute arose after Iran accused the United States of denying visas to several "integral" members of its national team's support staff, despite US officials confirming that the players themselves would be permitted to travel for the World Cup.
Amid concerns linked to ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States, Iran relocated its World Cup base to Mexico before the tournament.
Of the 15 delegation members initially denied visas, 10 submitted new applications after arriving in Mexico. Four appeals were approved, including those of a technical analyst and two officials from the Iran Football Federation's international department.
However, six applicants were denied again. Those refused visas include Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) president Mehdi Taj, a vice-president of the federation, two team administrators, a media officer, and a security officer. Another media officer chose not to reapply following the initial rejection.
Iran will open its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on 15 June. The team will return to the city to face Belgium on 21 June before travelling to Seattle to play Egypt on 26 June.
Earlier this week, US authorities revoked Iran's group-stage ticket allocation for supporters. FIFA has said it is working to maximise opportunities for Iranian fans to attend matches.
The FFIRI had previously submitted a list of conditions to FIFA regarding its participation in the tournament, including entry clearance for players, coaches, and officials who had completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran's players would be welcome at the World Cup but warned that individuals with links to the IRGC could face travel restrictions.
Iran was also absent from FIFA's annual congress in Vancouver in April after Canadian authorities denied entry to delegation members, citing concerns over alleged IRGC connections.
While FIFA does not cap the size of a nation's World Cup delegation, it only covers expenses for up to 50 individuals.
