Iranian national soccer players have received visas to enter the United States for the World Cup, as confirmed by a White House official. The visas were granted just days before their upcoming match in Los Angeles amid tensions between the two nations. Iran’s ambassador to Mexico initially stated that the team had not yet obtained their U.S. visas, but the visas were approved overnight, according to the White House official. The Iranian World Cup federation’s spokesperson was unavailable for immediate comment.
Reportedly, visas for certain technical and administrative staff of the Iranian team had not been issued by the U.S. government, as stated by the semi-official Fars news agency. This issue has not been resolved yet, with the U.S. embassy allegedly declining to issue the visas, as per the report without a specified source.
The ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S. has influenced the World Cup, turning the global sporting event into a geopolitical competition where both sides seem to leverage the tournament for political purposes. In response to concerns and visa delays, the team relocated its base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, with the squad set to arrive there early Sunday. Iran is slated to play its first Group G match against New Zealand in Los Angeles, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt in Seattle.
While the U.S. did not formally express opposition to the Iranian team’s presence on its soil, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that individuals associated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards would not be allowed in Iran’s World Cup delegation. Mehdi Taj, the president of Iran’s soccer federation and a former Revolutionary Guards commander, was previously turned away during the tournament draw in Washington in December.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup, even on U.S. territory, is seen as a gesture of seeking peace and resolving conflicts with Washington, according to Iranian Ambassador to Mexico Abolfazl Pasandideh. Pasandideh emphasized Iran’s commitment to peace through its involvement in the tournament during a statement at the Iranian embassy in Mexico City.
