Iran’s national football team will be allowed to enter the United States a day before each of its FIFA World Cup matches, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Tuesday, dismissing reports that the squad would be required to travel in and out of the country on match days.
The clarification came after reports quoting Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, suggested that the team would have to enter and leave the US on the same day as their matches, raising concerns over travel logistics and their potential impact on player performance.
Calling the reports “untrue”, a DHS spokesperson said Iran would not be required to arrive in the United States on the same day as its matches and would instead be allowed to enter the country a day in advance.
After weeks of uncertainty, all Iranian players and coaching staff received US visas on Friday, just 10 days before the tournament begins. However, several members of Iran’s delegation were denied entry.
According to the Iranian Football Federation, those refused visas include key managerial and administrative personnel. The Iranian Embassy in Mexico said the denied officials include the team manager, two analysts, the media director and a representative from the foreign ministry.
Iran open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, before facing Belgium at the same venue on June 21. Their final group-stage match will be against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Iran are currently holding a training camp in Tijuana, Mexico. The team’s training camp was originally planned in Arizona but was shifted to Mexico amid security concerns following the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran earlier this year.
US President Donald Trump had announced in March that Iran would be welcomed at the tournament, though he indicated it would not be appropriate for the team to remain in the United States between matches.
-IANS
