WANA (May 29) – Iran’s national football team has still not received U.S. visas and is facing severe training disruptions, preventing the squad from competing on “equal terms” at the upcoming World Cup, Tehran’s ambassador to Mexico announced.

 

Ambassador Abolfazl Pasandideh made the remarks during a visit to Tijuana, a northwestern Mexican border city where the Iranian team was forced to relocate its training camp.

 

The squad was originally scheduled to base its training operations in Tucson, Arizona. However, following systematic U.S. delays in issuing visas—compounded by escalating security concerns—Iranian officials made the last-minute decision to establish their camp in Mexico instead.

 

Speaking at a press conference, Pasandideh stated that “the northern country”—referring to the United States—has failed to fulfill its responsibilities as a tournament host. “We still do not know whether they will issue visas for the players or not,” the ambassador said.

 

Iran is scheduled to play its three World Cup group stage matches in two major U.S. West Coast cities: Los Angeles and Seattle. While the president of the Iranian Football Federation expressed hope that players would eventually be granted multiple-entry visas, the current administrative gridlock has heavily impacted preparations.

 

“We are not participating in the World Cup under equal terms,” Pasandideh said. “We have been unable to train our team the way we should due to the U.S.-Israeli war against [our] country, which began on February 28.”

 

A source from the local Tijuana football club, where the Iranian team is currently training, told AFP that Iranian diplomats toured the stadium facilities on Wednesday. The source added that the diplomatic delegation also held briefings with local security officials to ensure the team’s safety.

 

Iran is scheduled to open its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, followed by a match against Belgium on June 21 in the same city. The team is then slated to travel to Seattle to face Egypt on June 26.