Nations at war can still meet in the World Cup
In a historic first for international football, a host nation has granted visas to a rival team while the two countries were actively engaged in military conflict.
The World Cup has long been touted as a stage for soft diplomacy, but the 2026 tournament marks a unprecedented milestone in sports history. For the first time, a host nation has officially welcomed a national team from a country with which it is in a state of active military hostility. This occurred when the United States issued visas to the Iranian national football team for their opening match in Los Angeles, despite a series of escalating missile and drone strikes between the two nations.
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