Iran’s World Cup squad to depart for Mexico on June 6 despite US visa delay

Iran’s delegation will depart for their World Cup base camp Mexico on Saturday, despite the ongoing ambiguity over their visas for the United States less than two weeks before their opening game.

“The Iran national football team will depart Antalya for Tijuana at 15:20 (1220 GMT) on Saturday, June 6, and is scheduled to arrive in Mexico at 1:30 am (0730 GMT) on Sunday, June 7,” the team’s official social media account announced on Wednesday.

Iran will play their last World Cup warm-up game against Mali on Thursday in Turkiye, where they have been training for the upcoming tournament since last month.

The squad have played three friendlies in ⁠two training camps in Antalya since the start of the US and Israel’s war on Iran on February 28.

Team Melli lost to Nigeria and beat Costa Rica and The Gambia. Their last fixture in Turkiye will be played behind closed doors.

“Considering the importance of the Iranian national football team’s friendly match against Mali, and ‌in line with the tactical objectives of Iran’s head coach, tomorrow’s match against Mali will be held behind closed doors and without media attendance,” Iran’s football federation said in a statement.

On Monday evening, Iran’s football federation chief Mehdi Taj said the players were expected to get their visas for Mexico either on Tuesday or Wednesday “and then a US visa will be issued quickly”.

The federation has not revealed whether visas for Mexico and the US have been received.