Over the weekend, media reports cited the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, claiming that the team would have to enter and exit the US on the same day as their matches, raising concerns about logistics and potential impacts on team performance.
The Department of Homeland Security clarified that Iran would not be required to arrive on the same day as their games.
“These statements are false,” a spokesperson from the Department stated. “Thanks to the generosity of President (Donald) Trump, the Iranian team will be able to arrive the day before their matches.”
On Monday, the ambassador spoke to Reuters in Tijuana through an interpreter, criticizing US officials for denying visas to certain members of the Iranian football federation. However, he noted that those who received visas were not restricted from staying overnight.
“Their visas do not indicate any requirement to leave at a specific time,” he mentioned.
After several weeks of uncertainty, the US granted visas to all players on Friday, just ten days ahead of their first match.
Nevertheless, several key figures from the Iranian squad did not receive visas, including “important managerial and administrative staff,” as reported by Iran’s football federation. This group includes the team manager, two analysts, the media director, and a representative from the Foreign Ministry, according to the Iranian embassy in Mexico.
Iran is scheduled to compete against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. Initially, the players were set to train in Arizona, but this plan shifted following the conflict between the U.S. and Israel against Iran in February.
In March, Trump stated that Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup but expressed concerns regarding the appropriateness of the Iranian team staying in the U.S. “for their own life and safety.”
