US Grants Visas to Iran World Cup Squad Despite Ongoing Tensions Between Two Countries

Mexico City: The United States has approved visas for Iran's FIFA World Cup football team, US officials confirmed on Friday, clearing the way for the squad to travel from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico to play their opening matches near Los Angeles this month.

The ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States had complicated Iran's World Cup participation, forcing the team to relocate their training camp from Arizona in US to Tijuana in Mexico due to earlier visa processing difficulties. Officials confirmed that visas have been granted to players, coaches, trainers, and some support staff, though some applications linked to the team were rejected for submitting inadequate grounds. Passports were expected to be returned to the team by Friday or Saturday.

Iran's Football Federation had strongly insisted that all team members receive visas, including those who had served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran had also maintained throughout that no one could prevent their participation in the tournament, despite President Donald Trump earlier discouraging their involvement.

Iran's group stage schedule has them facing New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium six days later, both in Inglewood, followed by a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.