Iran World Cup Team Ordered to Exit U.S. Same Day After Matches and Train in Mexico

The United States stated that Iran’s World Cup team must leave the US immediately after its game.

It instructed Iran to enter and exit US land on the same day of their games and therefore Iran has to train in Mexico instead of its original destination, which was Arizona.

Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, said that this is what they have been told.

“We are allowed to enter in the morning, and we must leave the same day,” he told journalists.

Iran was meant to be in Arizona to train and play its group stage matches but instead has had to take up base in Mexico.

Also Read: Panic at Bungoma High as Students Ordered Out of School at Night

Visa Issues and Travel Logistics for the Iranian Football Team in the US

The Iranian team will compete in 3 US games, an opener against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, a match against Belgium on June 21 and a clash against Egypt on June 26.

The Iranian players will fly into Mexico from Tijuana before travelling over the border and playing the game, flying back after the game. T

The team is set to arrive in Tijuana in the early hours of Sunday, according to the Guardian reports, after a 20-hour flight from Turkey.

The US had already refused visas to approximately 15 Iranian delegates, including the director of executives Mehdi Kharati, football federation secretary-general Hedayat Mombini and manager of communications Mohsen Motamedkia.

US Visas have been granted to players and ‘essential support staff’ only; the vast majority of management, executive and technical staff have had their visas rejected.

Also Read: US Locks In Ebola Defence at Home as Kenya Quarantine Plan Stalls

US-Iran Political Tensions Impacting Sports

Iran slammed the US’s actions as “the worst form of political interference in sports” and called it “discriminatory treatment”.

The Iranian embassy in Turkey sent a tweet which declared “The US administration has amplified the already severe policy of discriminatory treatment toward Iran’s national football team to its highest degree”, arguing that America deprived Iran the right to participate “under normal and ordinary conditions without artificial obstacles, undue pressure, and stress”, and urged FIFA to hold the US to account for the host nation responsibilities.

The Secretary of State in the US, Marco Rubio, told Congress that Iran would not be allowed to enter with members who are associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with which many of Iran’s football players have completed their military service.

The Department of Homeland Security said that they are “committed to ensuring the security and safety of Americans and those attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup”.

They revealed that they are responsible for ensuring the security of all 11 World Cup host cities, including Los Angeles.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates

Iran Players pose for a photo with world cup fans in Antalya southern Turkey. Credits AP