New Delhi, June 6 -- Iran has accused the United States of denying visas to a significant number of officials and support staff associated with its national football team ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, escalating tensions just days before the team's opening match in the tournament, ABC News reported.

The dispute began after the Iranian Embassy in Turkiye responded to a social media post by US Ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack, who praised embassy officials in Ankara for processing visas for Iran's national team.

Barrack wrote on X, "Proud of our outstanding team at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for their work processing visas for Iran's national football team on their road to the @FIFAWorldCup in the United States. Sports transcends bor...