Iranian national team players submit documents for US and Canada visas to participate in World Cup

Iranian national team players visited Canada’s visa center in Ankara as a full squad, with several players also submitting applications for entry into the United States, Reuters reported, citing a representative of the Iranian Football Federation.

Iran’s group-stage matches will take place in Inglewood, California (against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21), as well as in Seattle (against Egypt on June 26).

If they advance to the playoffs, the Iranians will play in Canada.

Players who did not manage to obtain American visas before the start of the US military operation against Iran on February 28 applied for them in Turkey.

After the start of military actions, the football championship in Iran was suspended, and some players called up to the national team had no game practice for seven weeks.

The Iranians are preparing for the World Cup in Antalya, with a friendly match against Gambia scheduled for the team on May 29.

Iranian Football Federation head Mehdi Taj said in mid-May that the team had not received visas to the US and they would discuss the issue with FIFA.

Source: RBC