- Iran 's World Cup preparations are in disarray after key coaching staff were denied visas for entry into the United States , leading to accusations of "discriminatory treatment".
- The Iranian embassy on X criticised the US government for what it called "politically-biased interference in sport" following the visa denials for managerial and executive personnel.
- The US State Department confirmed that visas necessary for Iran to compete in the World Cup had been issued, but expressed concerns about the team being used to "sneak terrorists" into the country.
- Iran 's ambassador to Mexico stated that the team will only be allowed into the US on matchdays and must depart immediately after games, preventing them from fulfilling pre-match obligations.
- This development follows months of uncertainty over Iran's participation in the tournament, with Trump previously questioning the appropriateness of their presence.
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