 | CONNELL GRANGE SUPPLY WHERE THE CUSTOMER IS STILL THE COMPANY |
|
Printable Page
06/05 16:14 CDT Iran's World Cup team approved for visas to play games in the
US, officials say
Iran's World Cup team approved for visas to play games in the US, officials say
By COLLIN BINKLEY, SEUNG MIN KIM and MATTHEW LEE
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) --- Members of Iran's World Cup soccer team have been granted
visas to the United States, two U.S. officials said Friday, clearing them to
enter the United States from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, ahead of
their first two matches near Los Angeles this month.
The team's participation in the World Cup has been complicated by Iran's war
with Israel and the United States. Problems with processing visas had earlier
led Iran to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, on
Mexico's border with California.
One U.S. official said all players on the Iranian team were approved for visas
and were in the process of receiving them. A second official said visas had
been issued for players, coaches, trainers and some support staff. The
officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to
discuss the visas publicly.
The second official could not say if any Iranian applicants had been denied. It
was not immediately clear when the Iranian team's passports would be returned
to them to allow them to travel, but the official said it could be as early as
Friday or Saturday.
The squad has been preparing for the World Cup at a training camp in Antalya,
Turkey, before departing for Tijuana. The team said it has already received
visas from Mexico's embassy in Ankara.
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack credited the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for
processing visas for the Iranian team. "Sports transcends borders, and we look
forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world," Barrack wrote
in a social media post Friday.
Iran plays its first two games in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on
June 15 and Belgium six days later, then heads to Seattle to face Egypt on June
26. Iran and the U.S. could meet in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington,
Texas, if both teams place second in their groups.
President Donald Trump in March had discouraged Iran from participating in the
tournament, saying he didn't think it was "appropriate" and raising concerns
over players' "life and safety." A day later, Iran's national team pushed back,
saying "no one can exclude" it from playing.
Iran finalized its team Monday, including 17 home-based players whose clubs
have not played since February because of the war. Star forward Sardar Azmoun
was dropped in March, reportedly because of a social media post that angered
Iranian authorities during the war.
Iran's sports minister said in March that it would "not be possible" for the
team to participate in the World Cup, but the republic's soccer federation said
in May it was moving ahead with a team. The federation had insisted that all
players and staff be granted visas, including those who had military service in
the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
