Iran’s World Cup Plans Fall Into Chaos After US Visa Denials for Team Staff

Iran’s World Cup plans fell into “chaos” after claims that the national team would only be able to enter the United States on the day of their matches, with the host nation accused of “discriminatory treatment” over visa denials.

The dispute centered on visas for Iran’s coaching and support staff, with the Iranian embassy in Turkey posting on X that the US government was responsible for “the worst possible form of politically biased interference in sport”.

Al Jazeera

The US State Department said the “visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup” had been issued and warned: “We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.”

Iran’s envoy Abolfazl Pasandideh told reporters “we can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” citing visa restrictions that would prevent the team from traveling the day before each match and attending a press conference at the stadium.

Iran’s first Group G match is scheduled for 15 June against New Zealand in Los Angeles, with the team then set to face Belgium on 21 June and Egypt on 26 June, according to the tournament schedule described by The Independent and CNN.

Iran’s squad touched down in Mexico’s northwestern city of Tijuana on Sunday, with Tehran criticizing Washington over visa restrictions ahead of the World Cup this summer.

CNN reported that the president of Iran’s football federation, Mehdi Taj, said the team had been granted permission to enter the US “only one day before the match,” while Taj added, “We do not know how far the Americans’ obstructionism will continue,” according to semi-official Iranian media.

BBC

At Tijuana airport, The Guardian said Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei complained that “we should have been here last week because a 12-hour time difference needs two weeks of adjusting,” and he said the federation was “upset about this behaviour. It has certainly never happened before.”

The Guardian also reported that the team captain, Ehsan Hajsafi, demanded, “Why so late?” and said “In the last year, we experienced two imposed wars in our country.”

CNN added that Taj said the Iranian football federation would submit a protest to FIFA, while a US administration official told CNN that visas necessary for Iran to compete, including those for athletes and necessary support staff, have been issued.

The visa dispute is unfolding just days before the World Cup’s Thursday kick-off, with Iran’s Group G games scheduled in Los Angeles against New Zealand on 15 June and Belgium on 21 June, and in Seattle against Egypt on 26 June.

“Iran’s soccer team touched down in Mexico’s northwestern city of Tijuana on Sunday – a stone’s throw from the United States border – as Tehran criticized Washington over its visa restrictions ahead of the World Cup this summer”

CNN

CNN said Iran’s matches are expected to be shown in cinemas across Iran, subject to the “necessary approvals,” while IRIB reported the schedule and the diplomatic standoff around entry timing.

The Independent described World Cup rules as requiring each team to travel the day before each match and attend a press conference at the stadium, but it also said Iran’s envoy Abolfazl Pasandideh claimed “we can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” which would prevent those duties.

The Guardian said Iran’s federation chief Mehdi Taj was reportedly among those denied a visa, and it reported that support staff had been denied visas according to Iran’s embassy in Turkey, with fifteen administrative and management staff concerned.

With the dispute tied to access for athletes and support staff, the next step described across the coverage is whether FIFA and the US will address the protest and the timing of entry for Iran’s team and personnel as the tournament begins.