The Iranian national football team touched down in Mexico on Sunday, but the excitement was tempered by the fact that several players and staff still awaited U.S. visa approvals.
Visa delays cast shadow over preparation
Veteran defender Ehsan Hajsafi, speaking on the sidelines, laid the blame squarely on FIFA’s sluggish visa processing, saying the delays have disrupted preparations and placed key coaching personnel in limbo.
Because of the bureaucratic snag, the squad shifted its training camp from the Arizona desert to the border city of Tijuana, a move that allows them to stay closer to the United States while navigating the paperwork.
Their opening World Cup fixtures are slated for California, with matches scheduled in Inglewood and Los Angeles before they head north to Seattle, Washington, where the atmosphere will be especially charged given the political backdrop.
U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier urged Iran to stay out of the tournament, a stance that was met with a firm rebuttal from Tehran, which declared that no external force could bar the team from competing.
Adding to the turbulence, star forward Sardar Azmoun was omitted from the final roster after a social‑media post sparked controversy, a decision that coincided with earlier warnings from the Iranian sports minister that participation might be impossible.