[Saba Sports News] Abofazle Pasandid, Iran’s Ambassador to Mexico, stated in an interview that the Iranian national team has been instructed to enter the United States only on match days and depart immediately after each game. Amid tensions between the two countries, Iran has relocated its training base from Tucson, Arizona in the US to Mexico, even though all three of its World Cup group stage matches will be played on American soil.
US authorities said all players and essential support staff of the Iranian side have been granted visas. Iran refuted the claim, pointing out that 15 members of its delegation, including administrative personnel and football federation officials, still failed to obtain US visas. Some media outlets argued that the US requirements violate FIFA regulations, which mandate that head coaches of World Cup teams hold pre-match press conferences at the stadium one day prior to each fixture.
In my view, the US has escalated deliberate discriminatory treatment against the Iranian team to an extreme level. In essence, the US government has deprived the Iranian national team of the right to compete in the World Cup free from undue pressure and interference.