Iran’s players get US visas for World Cup but some staff are refused entry

Iran’s footballers have been issued visas by the United States that will allow them to play at the World Cup.

With just ten days to go until the tournament begins, Iran’s players have been permitted to enter the US, where they are due to play at least three matches.

However, it was reported on Friday night that a number of the team’s staff were denied visas.

The New York Times reported that more than a dozen members of the team’s support staff, which could include coaches, analysts and medical staff, have had their applications rejected.

The Iran war has turned the World Cup – the biggest global sporting event – into a geopolitical contest, with both sides appearing to use the tournament for political posturing.

It is the first World Cup, since its inception in 1930, in which a host nation is due to receive a country it is at war with.

The episode has also been a huge embarrassment for Fifa, who had refused to allow Iran to move their matches to Mexico.

Iran have already moved their training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in Mexico as it waited for the visas.

A US official said all players on the Iranian team were approved for visas and were in the process of receiving them.

A second official said visas had been issued for players, coaches, trainers and some support staff.

Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian federation and a former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also had his visa rejected, The New York Times reported.

It was not immediately clear when the Iranian team’s passports would be returned to them to allow them to travel, but the official said it could be as early as Friday or Saturday.

The squad have been preparing for the World Cup in Antalya, Turkey, before departing for Tijuana.

The team said they have already received visas from Mexico’s embassy in Ankara.

Iran will play their first two games in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later, then head to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26. 

Iran and the US could meet in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, if both teams finish second in their groups.

Donald Trump had discouraged Iran from participating in the tournament, saying he did not think it was “appropriate” and raising concerns over players’ “life and safety”.

A day later, Iran’s national team pushed back, saying “no one can exclude” it from playing, and Mr Trump later backtracked.

Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said last month that Iran would be welcomed to play in the World Cup, but staff with links to the IRGC would be denied entry.

Iran finalised their squad on Monday, including 17 home-based players whose clubs have not played since February because of the war.

Sardar Azmoun, the team’s best striker, was dropped in March, reportedly because of a social media post that angered Iranian authorities during the war.

Iran’s sports minister said in March that it would “not be possible” for the team to participate in the World Cup, but the republic’s soccer federation said in May it was moving ahead with a team.

The federation had insisted that all players and staff be granted visas, including those who had military service in the IRGC.

[Source: Daily Telegraph]