The United States US government has issued visas to the Iranian national football team to allow them to participate in the upcoming World Cup, a foreign news agency reported citing White House officials.
According to the officials, Iran will play its first Group G match against New Zealand on June 15. The Iranian team is also scheduled to face Belgium in Los Angeles as part of the tournament.
However, Iranian officials have claimed that while visas have been granted to the players, the US has not yet issued entry clearance to the team’s technical staff. The discrepancy could affect Iran’s preparations, as coaches and support personnel are essential for match-day operations.
The White House has not commented on the status of the technical staff’s visa applications. The development comes amid longstanding tensions between Washington and Tehran, with sporting events often serving as rare arenas for diplomatic engagement.
Iran’s Group G campaign will see them take on New Zealand and Belgium, with the Los Angeles match drawing particular attention given the city’s large Iranian diaspora community. It remains unclear whether the technical staff’s visa issue will be resolved before Iran’s June 15 opener.
