The Iranian team has reached Mexico ahead of the World Cup, facing visa restrictions, security concerns and political complications linked to ongoing regional conflict. [Getty]
Amid the turmoil of war in their homeland, Iran arrived in North America on Sunday in advance of the World Cup which starts this week in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
After the tournament favorites and the trio of host countries, all eyes will be on the Iran team which is dealing with the political ramifications of war between the United States and Israel that started in February.
The team’s traveling party arrived at Tijuana, Mexico, at 5 a.m. local time on Sunday after departing their camp in Turkey and flying through the night.
The team originally had been scheduled to have its base camp at Tucson, Ariz., before a change was made amid “security concerns.”
Adding to the complications for the Iran national team is that it only received its visas to enter the United States for tournament games last week and that some staff were denied visas.
About 15 accompanying officials were denied visas, including Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj, who previously served in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, designated a terrorist group by Washington.
According the an Al Jazerra report, the team will face further complications by only being allowed in the United States on the days of its games. The squad must arrive in the U.S. and depart back to its base in Mexico on the same days it plays.
Since the first Israeli and American strikes against Iran in late February, the war has created repeated uncertainty over Team Melli’s participation.
Never before had a nation competing in the tournament been at war with one of the host countries, and Tehran long left open the question of whether its team would be allowed to play.
Iran was drawn into Group G for the tournament and will open its World Cup schedule on June 15 against New Zealand in the Los Angeles area, which is approximately 140 miles from their base just across the United States/Mexico border.
Iran has another group stage game in the Los Angeles area against Belgium on June 21 and will take on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
