Kenneth Glad
The squad’s preparations have been reshaped by travel problems and late approvals. Officials and supporters are also caught in separate disputes before the first match.
Iran’s players are training in Mexico instead of Arizona after late US visa approvals disrupted their World Cup preparations, leaving the squad based across the border from its group-stage venues.
AP reported though that players, coaches and essential support staff finally received the required US visas. ,
Some officials and other delegation members, however, were denied entry or are still waiting for clearance.
Mexico replaced Arizona
Iran had planned to stay in Arizona, but the team instead travelled to Tijuana after a training camp in Turkey.
The squad will remain in Mexico between matches, although all three group matches are played in the United States.
Iran is scheduled to open against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, return to the same venue to face Belgium on June 21, and play Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
At Tijuana airport, coach Amir Ghalenoei told The Guardian: “We should have been here last week because a 12-hour time difference needs two weeks of adjusting.”
Ghalenoei also said tournament preparations should respect human and ethical considerations before technical matters, adding that he did not believe Iran had received that treatment.
Captain Ehsan Hajsafi questioned the timing of the approvals. “Why so late?” he said, according to The Guardian.
Iran’s embassy in Turkey accused the United States of “deliberate and discriminatory treatment against Iran’s national football team”.
A US administration official rejected Iran’s complaints, telling The Guardian: “We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretences.”
The visa dispute has left Iran’s build-up unusually tense, with the players cleared to compete but questions continuing around officials and wider delegation access.
Fans face a separate fight
The final issue concerns supporters. According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s football federation claims its official ticket allocation for group matches in the United States has been withdrawn.
The federation says it can no longer provide tickets to Iranian fans for the group matches, even though some supporters have been making arrangements.
It described the alleged withdrawal as “contrary to the spirit governing international competitions and the principle of equality among participating countries”.
Iran’s federation called on FIFA and tournament organizers to restore access, but neither FIFA nor US organizers have publicly responded to the claim.
Sources: AP, The Guardian, Al Jazeera
