TIJUANA.- The Iranian striker Mehdi Torabiwhose US visa had expired after his team’s first match against New Zealand in Los Angelesreceived a new permit that will allow him to participate in the rest of the World Cup 2026a Team Melli official announced on Tuesday.
“Thanks to the efforts of the Iranian Football Federation and the coordination with the FIFAtoday the player has been granted a new multiple entry visa,” he explained in a statement.
Your previous visa was only valid for a single entry into USA and expired on Monday night, after the match between Iran and New Zealandwhich ended with a 2-2 draw in Group G and in which the forward did not play.
With this new visa, Torabi “will be able to accompany the Iranian national team without problem in its next matches and will be able to travel with the group until the end of the tournament.”
In Group G, Iran must play against Belgium on sunday in Los Angeles and then face Egypt on June 26 in seattle.
This new episode related to Torabi adds to the difficulties that Iran has faced during the tournament.
Due to the war launched at the end of February by USA and Israel against Iranhis participation was uncertain until the last moment.
Instead of staying in ArizonaAs initially planned, the team established its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico. Besides, USA denied visas to fifteen members of the coaching staff for the group stage matches played in their territory.
On Monday night, upon returning to Tijuana, the captain Mehdi Taremi and a member of the coaching staff also had problems at the Los Angeles airport before their departure, according to the official Iranian agency Irna.
“The most abused team”
“We are the most mistreated team in the entire World Cup,” the coach denounced hours before Amir Ghalenoei in a press conference after the game against New Zealand.
Taremi, 33, revealed that the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantinohad visited the footballers in the locker room.
“We ask him for the same things (…) he wants to help, but there are other problems” that prevent it, he stated, without directly mentioning the US administration.
