While the U.S. will allow Iran to play their Group G matches in LA and Seattle, a massive standoff is brewing over IRGC military visas, Yankee Scores reports…
President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum has agreed to allow Iran to stay in Mexico during the World Cup, as the United States were reluctant to host the team.
The Overnight Ban
According to Sheinbaum, she received a letter from FIFA after the United States clarified that it did not intend to host the Iran national team at the World Cup.
“We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum said.
“The United States does not want the Iranian team to stay overnight, but they are going to play three matches there.
“So they asked us: ‘Can they stay overnight in Mexico?’ And we said: ‘Yes, no problem. We have no problem.”
From Arizona to Tijuana
Originally, the Iran team’s base for the World Cup was set for Tucson, Arizona. The squad had three matches in the United States scheduled. However, due to the Middle Eastern conflict, the future of Iran’s participation remains in doubt.
It’s worth mentioning that the World Cup will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran plays against New Zealand on June 15 and against Belgium on June 21 (both matches in Los Angeles) and against Egypt on June 26 (Seattle). At the moment, the team is preparing in Antalya (southern Turkey).
In addition, the sports minister of Iran Ahmad Donyamali has confirmed that the Fifa leadership promised that Iran squad members will receive visas to participate in the World Cup this summer in the United States:
“The Fifa president promised us that all our players would receive visas. There is no reason why our players should not receive visas,” he said.
The IRGC Visa Clashes
It is noteworthy that the Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) gave FIFA ten conditions for participating in the World Cup tournament. In particular, this included granting visas to the players, coaches, and officials, who had completed their military service in the ranks of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio reported that the players of Iran would be welcome at the World Cup. However, the players associated with the IRGC would have difficulty entering.
The chairman of the Iranian Football Federation Taj was one of those officials, who was denied admission at the Canadian border prior to the annual congress of the fifa association in Vancouver in April. In particular, it became known that his visa was canceled due to ties to the IRGC.
Some of the Iran players submitted their visa applications at the US Embassy in Ankara on Thursday.
