The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
According to the Iran Football Federation (IFF), the national team received its visas only 10 days before its opening World Cup match.
While the players have been cleared to travel, Iranian officials say some of the IFF's leadership and support staff remain unable to enter the U.S.
Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that those who had not received visas included Executive Director Mehdi Kharati, Secretary General, Hedayat Mombini, and Media Director Mohsen Motamedkia.
Staff members without visas will travel to Mexico with the team while efforts to obtain visas continue, the agency said.
The IFF said the behaviour of co-hosts the U.S. "contradicts international sports laws" and it would take up the matter with soccer's world governing body FIFA.
"The U.S. government, continuing its hostile actions against the national team ... made a non-sporting and completely political decision to refuse visas for key managerial and administrative members of the Iranian national football team," it said in a statement reported by Iran's state media.
The timing of the visa approvals has added to the challenges facing the team. Iran has been holding its final preparations in Antalya, Türkiye, and confirmed that players and essential team personnel received their travel documents through the Mexican Embassy in Antalya ahead of a planned departure to Mexico.
The squad is expected to base itself in Tijuana, just across the U.S. border from San Diego, before traveling to its matches.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said American authorities would carefully examine members of Iran's traveling party to ensure that only individuals directly connected to the football team are granted access.
"We have no problem with the athletes or their support staff," Rubio said earlier this week. "But what we're not going to allow is for them to embed in their delegation a bunch of people that we know have nothing to do with athletics and have ties to the IRGC or things of that nature."
The visa controversy had already forced Iran to alter its World Cup plans. The team initially intended to establish a training camp in Tucson, Arizona, but relocated operations to Tijuana amid uncertainty over travel arrangements and entry permissions.
The Iranian team opens its World Cup campaign against New Zealand on 15 June in Inglewood, California, before facing Belgium on 21 June at the same venue. Iran's final group-stage match will be played in Seattle five days later.
A potential knockout-stage meeting between the U.S. and Iran could take place on 3 July in Arlington, Texas, should both nations finish second in their respective groups.
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle...
Two of Georgia’s most senior officials used separate appearances in New York this week to deliver a similar message: the South Caucasus is ga...
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for sweeping reform of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, saying the world body could no longer ful...
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
While addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Washington and Tehran will reach a deal after the U.S. midterm elections.
Iran's military has threatened to launch sustained attacks on U.S. bases and interests across the Middle East if Washington resumes military action against Tehran.
Overnight Russian strikes on the city of Sumy, northeast Ukraine, have killed one woman and injured a man, the country's State Emergency Service has said.
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for sweeping reform of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, saying the world body could no longer fulfil its mission of maintaining international peace and security.
Moroccans vote on Wednesday, 23 September in a parliamentary election that will determine the make-up of the 395-seat House of Representatives and shape the next government.
A former Rwandan official has appeared in a London court, becoming the first person in the UK to face charges linked to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment