
Iran's football team was given a state farewell ceremony in Tehran this week, where chants of "Death to America" rang out and Hezbollah flags were visible in the crowd, as players and officials expressed uncertainty over whether US visas would be granted in time for the World Cup.
The send-off, which drew such large crowds that players were unable to leave their team buses at first, featured the unveiling of Iran's official 2026 World Cup kit.