Iran’s World Cup team approved for visas to play games in the US, officials say
A White House official said athletes and necessary support staff were approved after visa delays forced Iran to move its training base to Mexico.
- On Friday, a White House official confirmed Iran's World Cup soccer players have been granted visas to enter the United States, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles. Iranian ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh had indicated Thursday the squad still awaited approval, but visas were issued overnight.
- Uncertainty over travel documentation had cast doubt on squad preparations for weeks, prompting Iran to revise logistical plans and move its team base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico due to visa concerns and sentiment that the squad's U.S. presence should be limited.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that individuals linked to the Revolutionary Guards would be excluded from the delegation, as the tournament marks the first World Cup since 1930 in which a host nation welcomes a country with which it is at war.
- Iran will arrive in Tijuana early Sunday morning to begin final preparations for their June 15 opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles, followed by fixtures against Belgium and Egypt in Seattle. Ambassador Pasandideh stated, 'Iran's participation in the World Cup — even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy — shows that Iran seeks peace.'
- Diplomatic and security considerations have shaped the visa process, with the tournament becoming a geopolitical contest where both nations employ the event for political positioning, evident in Iran's soccer federation president Mehdi Taj being denied entry to December's tournament draw.
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Iran's soccer team readies to leave for World Cup as some officials still await US visas
Iran’s World Cup soccer team is preparing to travel from Turkey to their training base in Mexico. Some members of the Iranian Football Federation have not yet received U.S. visas. Iranian state television reports that key officials are among those…
On June 5th, the United States, the host country of the FIFA World Cup, issued visas to all 26 players of the Iranian national team who will be competing in the CONCACAF tournament, which kicks off on June 11th. Iran is scheduled to play its group stage matches in the United States, and the players have now successfully entered the country…
The visa applications of all players and coaches have been approved.
The United States has confirmed that it has issued visas for the Iranian national football team, allowing them to participate in this year's World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, according to multiple media reports.
A few days before the start of the World Cup in the USA and Mexico, Iran's national team received entry visas for the USA.
The Iranian football team will play well the World Cup of Football, which opens in a few days. At the same time, the United States announced new strikes against the Islamic Republic, despite the cease-fire in forceThe Iranian players obtained their American visas to compete for the World Cup of Football, at the same time as the United States and Iran exchanged new strikes in the Gulf. The American ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, and the State…
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