Iran’s soccer squad arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday, just across the border from the United States, as Tehran chastised Washington for its visa restrictions ahead of the World Cup this summer.
The president of Iran’s football federation, Mehdi Taj, announced Sunday that the Iranian soccer team had been granted permission to enter the United States for the competition, but, according to semi-official Iranian media, “only one day before the match,” triggering charges of unfair treatment.
“We don’t know how much longer the Americans’ obstructionism will last,” Taj told the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA). “What the United States is doing reflects malice and a lack of equality among teams.
A US administration official informed CNN that Iran’s visas to compete in the World Cup, including those for athletes and support staff, have been issued. The two countries remain at war, with no signs of a fast breakthrough in peace talks.
We will not allow the Iranian team to abuse this system to sneak terrorists into the United States under false pretenses,” the official stated. Soccer is not only Iran’s most popular sport. Public support for the national team crosses social, regional, and political divides, making it a unifying factor for millions of Iranians.
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