Iran's national football team has arrived in Tijuana, Mexico, as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup, amidst ongoing tensions with the United States regarding visa approvals for their delegation. The squad landed at Tijuana International Airport shortly after 5 AM local time (1200 GMT) following an overnight flight from Turkiye, where they had been training for three weeks.

Visa Challenges and Relocation

The Iranian football federation made a last-minute decision to shift the team's base camp from Arizona to Mexico, largely due to uncertainty surrounding visa approvals for entry into the U.S. While all players received their U.S. visas just ten days before their first match, several key members of the support staff, including important managerial and administrative personnel, were denied entry. This situation has raised concerns about the team's ability to operate effectively during the tournament.

Diplomatic Tensions

As the tournament approaches, the diplomatic row has intensified. Iran's embassy in Turkiye criticized the U.S. for what they described as "deliberate and discriminatory treatment" of the national team and called on FIFA to hold the U.S. accountable for these actions. Additionally, Iran's ambassador to Mexico revealed that the team is required to enter and exit U.S. territory on the same day as their matches, which contradicts earlier statements from the team's spokesman regarding the nature of their visas.

Despite these challenges, Iran will remain based in Mexico throughout the tournament, even though their group stage matches will take place on the U.S. West Coast. This World Cup marks a historic moment, as it will be the first time a host nation welcomes a team from a country it is at war with.