Four members of Iran’s World Cup delegation successfully overturned their visa rejections for entry into the US.
However, 11 other crucial individuals, deemed integral to Iran’s national team’s support staff, were denied entry to the US for the upcoming matches.
While Iran’s players were granted entry for the World Cup, certain members of the delegation faced visa denials, as confirmed by US officials and Iranian authorities last week.
The Iranian delegation, currently situated in Mexico, saw 10 out of 15 members reapply for US visas upon their arrival in Mexico, resulting in only four successful appeals. These included an analyst and two officials from the federation’s international department.
Among those denied entry were the president of the Iran Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, a federation vice president, and other key administrative and security personnel.
Iran is scheduled to compete against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by matches against Belgium on June 21 and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed his delight at Iran’s participation in the World Cup, recalling his commitment to ensuring their presence since his visit to the Iranian team in Turkey earlier this year.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously stated that while Iranian players are welcomed, individuals associated with the IRGC may face entry restrictions.
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