According to HotNews.ro’s report by Viorela Marin, the Iranian embassy in Turkey challenged a statement by US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who said that players and “necessary support staff” had received visas for the United States.

Visa refusals affect team staff

In a post on X, the Iranian embassy asked why Barrack had not mentioned that visas had been refused to “a large part of the management and coaching staff, technical advisers and other people who are an integral part of the national team.”

The embassy described the refusals as “the highest level of intentional discrimination” against Iran.

The dispute has added a political dimension to Iran’s preparations for the tournament, with the long-running tensions between Tehran and Washington now extending into the World Cup.

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Team base moved to Mexico

The visa problems have also forced late changes to Iran’s tournament logistics. Tehran negotiated the relocation of the team’s base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, because of the visa difficulties and growing pressure inside Iran to limit the squad’s presence on US soil.

The team is expected to arrive in Tijuana on Sunday morning.

Group G campaign begins in Los Angeles

Iran will begin its Group G campaign on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles. The team will also face Belgium in the same city before travelling to Seattle for its final group match against Egypt.

The row over visas has placed further scrutiny on a tournament already shaped by wider political tensions, as one of football’s biggest stages becomes entangled with a dispute far beyond the pitch.

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Sources: hotnews.ro

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