Iran’s World Cup players have received visas to enter the United States ahead of their opening match, a US official has confirmed, although several members of the team’s administrative staff are still awaiting clearance.
The White House official told Reuters on Friday, 10 days before Iran’s first match in Los Angeles, that visas had been issued to the players. The confirmation came after Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said on Thursday that the squad had not yet received the documents.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday that those still waiting for visas include Executive Director Mehdi Kharati, Football Federation Secretary-General Hedayat Mombini and Media Director Mohsen Motamedkia.
According to the report, staff members without visas will travel to Mexico with the team while efforts continue to secure entry permits.
The United States, Mexico and Canada are co-hosting the World Cup, which begins on Wednesday. The tournament comes against the backdrop of the conflict between the US and Iran, making this the first World Cup since the competition began in 1930 where a host nation is due to receive a country it is at war with.
Iran has moved its tournament base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, following visa complications and growing sentiment in Tehran that the team should minimise its time in the United States. The squad is expected to arrive in Tijuana early on Sunday.
Iran will open its Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. The team will also face Belgium before taking on Egypt in Seattle.
Pasandideh said the United States had never formally indicated that it did not want the Iranian team to stay on its territory.
However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would not be allowed into the country as part of the delegation.
Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s football federation and a former Revolutionary Guards commander, was denied entry for the World Cup draw in Washington in December.
Pasandideh said Iran’s participation in the tournament reflected its desire to resolve the conflict with Washington.
“Iran’s participation in the World Cup – even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy – shows that Iran seeks peace,” Pasandideh said through a Spanish interpreter at the Iranian embassy in Mexico City.
Efforts to reach a peace agreement between Iran and the United States have progressed slowly, with both sides continuing military operations while pursuing negotiations on an interim deal.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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