Officials from Iran called foul over the weekend, claiming “deliberate and discriminatory treatment” after the U.S. denied visas to several members of its national soccer team ahead of this month’s World Cup.
Iran’s national team will play its three group stage matches in Seattle and Los Angeles, but players and coaches agreed to move their base camp to Tijuana, Mexico, due to safety concerns in the U.S.
The Iranian squad had been practicing in Turkey before flying directly to Mexico on Saturday. On social media, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack took a victory lap for facilitating the visas on Friday.
“Proud of our outstanding team at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for their work processing visas for Iran’s national football team on their road to the @FIFAWorldCup in the United States,” Mr. Barrack wrote. “Sports transcends borders, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and fans from around the world.”
The post drew immediate backlash from disgruntled Iranian officials, who have continually expressed concerns about their team’s ability to participate in the World Cup due to the ongoing military conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
“You cannot whitewash conduct that violates FIFA regulations and breaches the United States’ host obligations merely by praising yourselves,” a response from the Iranian embassy in Turkey read. “This represents the worst possible form of politically biased interference in sport.”
Every Iranian player received their visas, as did each member of the coaching staff. However, Iranian Football Federation leaders Hedayat Mombeini, the organization’s secretary general, and its vice president, Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, were not issued visas.
It was not immediately clear whether Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, had received a visa.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concerns about the visa process in April after President Trump mentioned that it would not be “appropriate” for the Iranian team to participate in the World Cup.
“They can’t bring a bunch of [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] terrorists into our country and pretend that they are journalists and athletic trainers,” said Mr. Rubio.
Military service is required for men in Iran, and some members of the Iranian soccer team served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Each player from the 30-man squad received a visa, regardless of their prior military status.
However, the visa process has been far from smooth. The Iranian team will be required to leave U.S. soil the same day of each match, as the Trump administration will not allow the group to remain in the U.S. overnight.
The Iranian Football Federation said the visa process exemplified the U.S.’s continued “vindictive behavior” toward the Iranian squad.
“Visas were eventually issued. Personally, however, I do have a complaint about FIFA,” Iran defender Ehsah Hajsafi said Sunday. “Why did it take so long? … From here, I would like to ask FIFA to resolve this issue so that, God willing, the situation can be resolved in the coming days.”
On its website, the organization claimed American officials “effectively denied the Iranian national team the opportunity for a level playing field and a competition free from discrimination.” The written post claimed that the team’s leaders would file a grievance with FIFA.
But FIFA President Gianni Infantino has allied himself with President Trump throughout the lead-up to the World Cup. Mr. Infantino awarded Mr. Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December and denied Iran’s requests to move its group-stage matches from the U.S. to Mexico or Canada. The other North American nations are also hosting this year’s World Cup through a joint bid with the U.S.
In the aftermath of Operation Epic Fury, Iranian officials said it would be impossible for their team to compete in its fourth consecutive World Cup as originally scheduled. But FIFA never outlined a process that would’ve moved Iran’s group-stage matches or provided a potential replacement team.
The initial apprehension faded slightly as Iranian officials confirmed last month that they would send a squad to the North American World Cup.
Iran opens World Cup play against New Zealand on June 15 in Southern California. They’ll return to SoFi Stadium — home of the NFL’s Chargers and Rams — for another Group G match against Belgium on June 21. The Iranians’ group-play schedule concludes with a match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
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