Iran’s World Cup players have finally been granted visas to enter the United States just ten days before their first match in Los Angeles.
Ongoing conflict between the two countries has wreaked havoc with the build-up to the tournament, and there were concerns over Iran’s participation, but the road now appears clear for the players to touch down in the States.
A White House official confirmed on Friday that visas were granted overnight, after Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, had said late Thursday that the squad had yet to receive their visas.
Iran had previously negotiated a last-minute move of the team’s base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, due to visa issues and a growing feeling in Iran that the squad’s presence in the US should be kept to a minimum.
They are still scheduled to land in Tijuana early Sunday morning, despite now having access to the United States.
Various reports have since claimed that other members of the traveling delegation – some technical and executive staff – are still waiting on visas.
The Iranian team has spent over two weeks in Turkey, preparing at a coastal resort in Antalya
Iran could potentially face the USMNT in the knockout stages of this summer’s tournament
It has been claimed that the US Embassy has so far failed to process all visa applications, with the games fast approaching.
Iran are due to play their first Group G match on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, where they will then face Belgium on June 21 before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The latter of the group stage matches is FIFA’s designated ‘Pride Match’, despite homosexuality being banned in both nations.
The US has never formally said it did not want the Iran team to stay on its territory, ambassador Pasandideh said.
However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers Tuesday that the US would not allow Iran to include in their World Cup delegation individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a powerful branch of the Iranian armed forces.
Several players in the Iran squad have completed mandatory military service.
The conflict between the US and Iran, which started in February, has been halted by a fragile ceasefire since April 8 and Donald Trump has told aides privately that it will continue – unless US troops are killed.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been in hiding since American and Israeli forces killed his father
There is even a chance that the USMNT and Iran could square off under the spotlight of the World Cup in what would be a fascinating collision of geopolitics and sport.
The two teams were drawn in separate groups back in December. The USMNT is in Group D with Austria, Paraguay and Turkey. Iran will compete in Group G and play against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
Therefore, the two teams can only meet after the group stage in the knockout rounds and the most likely scenario will see them face off in the round of 32.
If both Iran and the USMNT finish second in their respective groups, then they will set up a mouth-watering clash in Arlington, Texas, at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
They could also collide in the last 16 in Seattle, but this would require both teams to win their groups and their round of 32 matches.
A quarter-final showdown is also possible but the scenario is highly complex and unlikely.
Iran’s team is not required to enter the United States until June 14, one day before its first match against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood.
Donald Trump has told aides privately his ceasefire will continue – unless US troops are killed
Iran returns to Inglewood to face Belgium on June 21 and completes Group G in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.
‘Well, to be honest, it’s not easy,’ said Saeid Ezatolahi, a 29-year-old midfielder who also played for Iran in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, earlier this week.
‘That’s going to be my third World Cup. So for me and some of the other players, it might be easier to manage these kinds of things.
‘But at the end… it is going to be difficult for us because at the same time, we are following the news in our country and the political things, of course, can affect the minds of the players and the people.’
