Iran's national football team has arrived in Mexico for training ahead of the World Cup, but a US visa row may force players and staff to fly in and out of the US on match days. The team's plans are complicated by the visa issue, which comes as they prepare to play group matches in the US later this month.
The team's arrival in Mexico on Sunday marked the beginning of their World Cup preparations. However, several members of the Iranian delegation were denied US visas, according to reports. This has introduced uncertainty into their plans, with the team having to navigate the complexities of traveling to and from the US on short notice.
Iran's ambassador to Mexico has expressed concern over the visa denials, citing potential disruption to the team's preparations. The Iranian government and football federation have not commented on the visa row. The team's training in Mexico is seen as a crucial part of their Iran World Cup preparations, and the visa issue may cause logistical challenges and disruptions.
The US denied visas to some members of the Iranian delegation, but the reasons for the denials are not clear. The sources do not provide a consistent account of which team members were affected, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the team's plans. The Iranian team will continue to train in Mexico before traveling to the US for their group matches.
The team's performance in the World Cup will depend on their ability to navigate the logistical challenges posed by the visa row and to prepare for their matches despite the disruptions. The World Cup matches are scheduled to take place later this month, and the Iranian team will have to be ready to face their opponents despite the challenges they are facing.