Iran Team Flies to Mexico as 14 Officials Still Lack U.S. World Cup Visas
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jun 6
Iran Team Flies to Mexico as 14 Officials Still Lack U.S. World Cup Visas
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jun 6
Summary
Iran’s World Cup squad left Turkey for a training base in Mexico on Saturday while 14 officials and backroom staff, including two senior federation figures, still reportedly lacked U.S. visas.
The visa dispute already forced Iran to shift its pre-tournament camp from Tucson to Tijuana before group matches in Inglewood on June 15 and 21 and Seattle on June 26.
Iran’s federation accused Washington of discriminatory, politically motivated interference in sport and said it would take the case to FIFA; the Iranian Embassy in Ankara also rebuked U.S. officials’ claims of smooth visa processing.
U.S. officials said all players were approved and visas were issued for coaches, trainers and some support staff, while one official said some applicants were rejected for seeking entry under “false pretenses.”
The standoff extends months of uncertainty over Iran’s participation during the Iran war, even after FIFA publicly confirmed the team would play its World Cup matches in the United States.