The clock is ticking for Iran's World Cup preparations, and a major off-field issue remains unresolved. With less than a month until the tournament kicks off, Iranian FA president Medhi Taj has revealed that the team's players are still waiting for their visas to be processed.
Just days ago, thousands of passionate fans gathered in Tehran for a departure rally, sending the squad off with high hopes. But the excitement is tempered by a looming logistical hurdle. "The visa issue has still not been resolved," Taj told state news agency IRNA, adding that a decisive meeting with FIFA is expected imminently. "Tomorrow or the day after, we will have a decisive meeting with FIFA. They must give us guarantees. We have not received any account from the other side regarding who has been granted visas. No visas have been issued yet."
This World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico starting June 11, presents unique challenges for Iran. The US and Iran are currently in a month-long ceasefire, but tensions remain high. Iran's schedule sees them face New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle on June 26, with the team based in Tucson, Arizona.
The visa issue is just the latest chapter in a complex saga. Earlier, a delegation of Iranian FA officials, including Taj, was turned away at the Canadian border before FIFA's annual congress in Vancouver. Taj said they chose to return home after what they felt was disrespectful treatment by immigration officials. Canada's immigration minister later clarified that Taj's visa was canceled due to his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Despite these hurdles, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has offered reassurance. "Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America," he stated at the congress. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also confirmed that players will be welcome, though individuals with IRGC links could face entry restrictions.
In response, the Iranian FA has presented FIFA with a list of 10 conditions for their participation, including a demand that players, coaches, and officials who completed military service with the IRGC receive visas. As the World Cup draws closer, all eyes are on whether diplomatic channels can clear the path for Iran to take the field.