US Grants Visas for Iran World Cup Players

Iran’s World Cup football players have been granted visas to enter the United States, Reuters quoting a White House official reports just days before their opening match in Los Angeles.

Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, had earlier said the squad had not received visas, but the White House official confirmed they were issued overnight.

However, some members of Iran’s technical and administrative staff are still awaiting visas, according to reports by the semi-official Fars news agency, which said the US Embassy had not yet issued all approvals.

Iran are scheduled to play their first Group G match on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, followed by fixtures against Belgium and Egypt.

The US and Iran are currently at war, making this World Cup the first in history in which a host nation is set to receive a country it is in conflict with. (Agencies)