The Iraqi Football Association resolves the controversy over the American visa crisis

Iraq denied the validity of reports that the American authorities refused to grant visas to some players of the national team participating in the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for next month in North America, stressing that all members of the delegation obtained official approvals to enter the United States.

Local and international reports indicated that the Iraqi national team is facing a crisis before its expected participation in the World Cup, after an absence of 40 years, due to allegations of refusal to grant entry visas to a number of players, including Ibrahim Bayesh, Muhannad Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Haider Abdul Karim, and Ali Al Hammadi, without explaining the reasons.

However, the Iraqi News Agency quoted the local Football Association as confirming that “the news circulating about the American embassy’s refusal to grant visas to some of the team’s players is baseless,” noting that “all 55 members of the delegation obtained official approvals to enter the United States, without any case of refusal recorded.”

The agency added that the team will head to Spain on May 22, following the announcement of the final list that will participate in the preparatory camp, led by Australian coach Graham Arnold.

She also indicated that Arnold will hold a press conference on May 19 or 20 at the headquarters of the Iraqi Football Association in the capital, Baghdad, to talk about the team’s preparations and its program before the start of the tournament.