Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, on April 3 criticized the United States for failing to issue visas to the country's football team for the 2026 World Cup, adding that Iran cannot compete on a 'level playing field' because of obstacles in preparation.
Speaking in the border city of Tijuana—where the Iranian team shifted its training camp after original plans in Tucson, Arizona (US) fell through—Pasandideh said the 'northern neighbor' (referring to the US) had not fulfilled its hosting responsibilities toward the Iranian team.
'We do not know whether the players will get visas,' he added.
Iran is scheduled to play three World Cup group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. The head of Iran's Football Federation earlier expressed hope that the players would be granted multiple-entry visas.
'We are not participating in the World Cup on a level playing field,' Pasandideh said. 'We have not been able to train the team as we should have,' he explained, citing the conflict between the US and Israel against Iran that started on February 28.
Earlier, on April 2, Iranian diplomats visited the stadium where the team trains, a source from the Tijuana club said. The diplomats also met with local security officials.
According to the schedule, Iran will face New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, Belgium on June 21 at the same venue, and Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
