The Football World Cup has yet to start, but the Iranian selection can already cheer. After a long wait, they have received their visas to play at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Reuters news agency and the BBC report.
Due to the war that the United States was fighting with Iran, there was long uncertainty whether the Iranian player would be allowed to enter the US. Although never explicitly stated, the American government left the possibility of Iranian participation open for a long time. President Donald Trump said he “doesn’t think much” about Iran’s soccer team when reporters asked him about the issue.
Foreign Minister Marco Rubio seemed to anticipate a refusal from the Iranians: he was afraid that the team would take people “loyal” to military groups, “disguised as journalists and trainers.”
The Iranian regime also seemed to want to thwart. Last March, Sports Minister Ahmad Donjamali said that participating in the World Cup is “absolutely not an option.” Later, a government spokesperson said the Iranian selection would be “fully prepared” for the World Cup.
Home base moved to Mexico
Due to visa uncertainties, the Iranian team last week moved its home base from Arizona to the Mexican city of Tijuana, which is close to the US border. The players are expected to land there next Sunday. Iran will play its first match against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, with matches against Egypt and Belgium to follow later.
American-Italian businessman and Trump confidante Paolo Zampolli hoped in April that Italy would be able to participate in the World Cup instead of Iran. Italy has not qualified, but the country’s four World Cup titles would justify participation. That plan failed. FIFA president Gianni Infantino did not want to rule out Iran. “They have qualified, the players want to play. Sports should be outside politics.”
In 1998 and 2022, the national teams of the United States and Iran played against each other at the World Cup. The British newspaper The Guardian described the 1998 match as the “most politically charged match” in the tournament’s history. Ayatollah Khamenei had instructed the Iranian players in advance not to shake hands with the Americans. Instead, the Iranians shared white roses to their opponents and had their picture taken together. During the match, Iranian fans demonstrated against the regime. Iran won 2-1.
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