The report says Iranian photographer Sajad Imanian was denied a US visa after an interview in Sydney, despite having lived in Australia for several years and previously covering major international events.
He recalled telling officials: “Eu disse que nem sequer tinha pisado nesses lugares”. In English, Imanian’s point was simple: he said he had never visited the places he was questioned about.
He also contrasted the experience with previous Olympic travel, saying: “Se você está cobrindo os Jogos Olímpicos, apresenta o convite ou o cartão de identificação no aeroporto.” His argument was that official accreditation had previously provided a clear route through border controls.
For tournament photographers, access is not a luxury. It determines whether players can be documented, teams can communicate with supporters and sporting moments can reach audiences worldwide.
The report also says Iraqi national-team photographer Talal Salah travelled with the squad but was refused entry at Chicago’s O’Hare airport.
Iran reportedly faced a separate logistical problem. After being denied permission to stay overnight in the United States, the team moved its base from Tucson to Tijuana, Mexico. That arrangement meant immediate flights after matches played in the US, reducing recovery time and complicating the normal rhythm of a tournament campaign.
The football itself is already demanding. Additional border crossings, accommodation changes and travel planning can make preparation harder, particularly when a squad is trying to recover between matches.
Ghalenoei’s complaint raises a question and host authorities will need to confront: can a World Cup truly be global if access depends so heavily on nationality?
The next storyline will be whether Iran can keep its focus on the pitch while navigating these reported restrictions-and whether future tournaments create clearer guarantees for players, staff and accredited media.