TEHRAN - USA Wrestling’s executive director said the organization is working hard to secure visas for all members of Iran’s national wrestling teams to compete at the World Championships.
Alireza Dabir, president of Iran’s Wrestling Federation, recently warned that if the U.S., as host of the 2026 U-23 World Wrestling Championships, fails to issue a visa to even one member of Iran’s team, Iran will not participate in the event.
“By denying visas, they’re cutting off our teams at the head,” Dabir had said. “We have the World Under-23 Championships coming up in October in the U.S. I’ve told the president of the international federation that if the U.S. fails to issue a visa to even one team member, we will certainly not send the team. Whether we’re there isn’t what matters — how we’re there is what matters.”
Responding to a question from ISNA about the Iranian federation’s warning, USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender said the organization is working hard to secure visas for all members of Iran’s team to attend the World Championships. Citing the U.S.’s interest in having Iran’s team compete in the event, he stressed: “We very much want all members of Iran’s team to be able to participate in this event.”