Visa Delays Complicate Preparations
Iran’s soccer team touched down in Mexico as part of a preparatory camp ahead of the World Cup, but the campaign has been marred by a series of visa setbacks that have delayed key personnel and raised the specter of a disrupted schedule.
Defender Ehsan Hajsafi publicly rebuked FIFA, accusing the governing body of dragging its feet on processing the necessary travel documents. The criticism underscores growing frustration within the camp, where the absence of several coaching staff has forced a reshuffling of tactical plans.
In response to the bureaucratic impasse, the squad announced a relocation of its training base to Tijuana, a city just across the border. The move was presented as a pragmatic solution to circumvent the delays, but it also highlighted the broader strain that visa issues have placed on the team’s logistics.
The altered itinerary will see Iran’s opening matches staged in California, with fixtures against New Zealand and Belgium scheduled in Inglewood and Los Angeles respectively. After those games, the team is slated to travel to Seattle for a subsequent contest, while a potential showdown with the United States looms in the round of 32 should both sides finish second in their groups.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump added another layer of tension by publicly urging Iran to stay out of the tournament, a stance that was swiftly rejected by Tehran’s sports minister, who declared that no external force could bar the nation’s athletes from competing.
Adding to the upheaval, star forward Sardar Azmoun was omitted from the final roster after a controversial social‑media post, a decision that sparked debate among fans and analysts alike. Despite the setbacks, the Iranian Football Federation remains steadfast, insisting that all players and staff, including those serving in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, must receive the required visas to fulfill their World Cup obligations.