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Iran’s World Cup squad can enter the US only on matchdays and must leave the same day, the country’s ambassador revealed amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
(Credit: AP)
Iran’s World Cup preparations have taken another extraordinary turn, with the country’s squad reportedly being told they can enter and leave the United States only on the same day as their matches during the tournament.
Iranian ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, confirmed the arrangement on Saturday, revealing the strict travel conditions imposed on the team.
“We can enter in the morning and we must leave the same day,” Pasandideh told reporters.
The unprecedented situation comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation in the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
According to multiple senior officials, all 26 members of Iran’s playing squad have now received visas to enter the United States. However, the approval process was far from smooth. More than a dozen members of the support staff and football federation officials expected to travel with the team reportedly had their visa applications rejected.
The restrictions arrive against the backdrop of continuing tensions between Iran and the United States. The ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel has cast a geopolitical shadow over the tournament, creating one of the most unusual scenarios in World Cup history.
This will be the first World Cup since the competition began in 1930 in which a host nation is set to welcome a country it is actively engaged in conflict with.
Base Shifted From US To Mexico
Faced with visa complications and growing concerns in Tehran, Iran opted to move its World Cup base camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, at the last minute.
The squad is scheduled to arrive in Tijuana on Sunday and will commute into the United States for its group-stage fixtures.
Iran have been drawn in Group G and will begin their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They will remain in Los Angeles to face Belgium before travelling to Seattle for their final group match against Egypt.
Despite the travel restrictions, Pasandideh stressed that US authorities never formally stated they did not want the Iranian team on American soil.
(with AFP inputs)
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After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
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