Iran denounced that the United States denied visas to part of the delegation that will accompany its team in the Soccer World Cup. The Iranian Football Federation (IFF) accused Washington of adopting an “unsportsmanlike” and “completely political” decision.
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According to the Iranian agency Tasnim, the footballers have already received their entry permits to the United States. However, the refusal would affect the IFF Secretary General, Hedayat Mombini; the team’s executive director; Mehdi Kharati; the communications director; Mohsen Motamedkia; and representatives of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Iranian delegation is scheduled to arrive this Saturday in Tijuana, Mexico, from where those affected would try to make a new visa application. The Iranian Embassy in Turkey also questioned US envoy Tom Barrack, who had assured that Iranian players already had authorization to enter the United States.
“They have now taken the deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team to its highest level,” the embassy declared on X.
Team Melli, as the Iranian national team is known, will set up its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, after FIFA approved the transfer from Tucson, Arizona, the initially planned venue, following the start of the war between the United States and Iran in February of this year.
The World Cup will begin on June 12 and Iran will debut on the 16th against New Zealand in Los Angeles, then will face Belgium on the 21st and will close the group stage against Egypt on June 27 in Seattle.
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