ISTANBUL.- The American ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barracksconfirmed this Friday on the social network X the granting of visas to the players of the national team Iran who will dispute the North America World Cup 2026.
“Proud of our amazing team at the US Embassy of Ankara for his work processing visas for players of the Iranian national soccer team on their way to the @FIFAWorldCup in USA“he wrote, sharing news about the granting of permits to enter US territory.
“Sports transcend borders and we look forward to welcoming participants and fans from around the world,” said the ambassador.
The Iranian team must fly on Saturday from Türkiye to Spain before heading to their base camp in Mexicoa country that had already issued visas last week.
Team Melli will have its base camp in Tijuana, Mexicoduring the North America World Cupbut will play its three group stage matches in USAtwo in Los Angeles and the remaining in Seattle.
Initially it was planned that their base camp would also be in Tucson, Arizonabut had to move it to Mexico due to the tension between Iran and USA for the war in Middle East.
This Friday, the president of the Iranian Football Federation had announced that his players had already handed in their passports at the American embassy in Türkiye.
“Yesterday (Thursday) I had conversations with the FIFA about US visas. We were asked to hand over all passports to the embassy of USA in Ankara“, where the Iranian team is concentrated, declared Mehdi Taj.
“I believe that all (American) visas will be issued and that there will no longer be any problem with that,” he added.
Pochettino expresses frustration
The selector of USA, Mauricio Pochettinoexpressed this Friday his concern about the physical condition of Chris Richardsa pillar of their defense, who will remain out against Germany in the last friendly before World Cup 2026.
The player of Crystal Palacefavorite to occupy the center of the defense alongside the veteran Tim Reamwas included in the list of 26 summoned for the World Cup despite the ankle injury he suffered last month.
Pochettino, however, has the possibility of replacing him up to 24 hours before the co-hosts’ opening game, on June 12 against Paraguay by Group D, which completes Türkiye and Australia.
