Iran's World Cup soccer team departed from Turkey for their training base in Mexico on Saturday, amid a growing diplomatic dispute over U.S. visa denials for team officials.
The Iranian Football Federation's secretary-general and vice president are among 14 backroom staff and officials without U.S. visas, according to Iranian state television. The federation accused the U.S. of vindictive behavior, saying it undermined fair competition and vowing to pursue the matter with FIFA.
The team's participation in the World Cup has been complicated by the Iran war. Problems with visa processing led Iran to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. Players, coaches, and most support staff have received visas, but some applicants were rejected for allegedly requesting visas under false pretenses.
The squad had been preparing in Antalya, Turkey, and flew directly to Mexico on Saturday. Iran plays its first two games in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, then faces Egypt in Seattle on June 26. A potential round-of-32 matchup against the U.S. could occur on July 3 in Arlington, Texas.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly confirmed Iran's participation in the World Cup. The team finalized its roster on Monday, including 17 home-based players whose clubs haven't played since February due to the war.