₦airaland Forum

An Iranian national football team player’s United States visa has expired, state media reported Tuesday, leaving his future at the World Cup shrouded in doubt with Tehran engulfed in a bitter diplomatic row with Washington.

Winger Mehdi Torabi was only issued a single-entry visa instead of the multiple-entry visa given to other Iranian national team players to take part in the global spectacle, where Team Melli earned a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their opening match on Monday.

“Following the national team’s trip to Los Angeles for the match against New Zealand and the conclusion of that game, Torabi’s visa has now expired,” state news agency IRNA reported.

The Iranian Football Federation “has taken steps to obtain a new visa for Torabi, so that he can accompany the national team in its upcoming matches”, it added.

The agency did not disclose if Torabi successfully departed the US but said “all members of the national team are on board the aircraft” that was leaving the United States for Mexico after the match.

The United States and tournament organisers did not immediately comment.

The report comes after a series of visa-related issues affecting Iran’s delegation during the Middle East war between the US and Iran.

The two nations have agreed a framework to end the conflict, but Iran had already moved its base to Mexico over security concerns and is having to travel in and out of the US for the team’s group-stage games.

Iranian officials previously said around 15 members of the delegation were denied US visas.

IRNA also said in a separate report that Iranian captain Mehdi Taremi and a staff member faced difficulties at Los Angeles airport after the team’s draw with New Zealand upon their departure.

Iran play Belgium in their second Group G match on Sunday in Los Angeles before facing Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

HacheNoire:
Even the ones that got full entry are being subjected to humiliations!

Uruguayan team was subjected to terrible humiliation with sniffer dogs.

Senegal was welcomed with a search RIGHT ON THE TARMAC.

FIFA really lost it.

Did anyone observe that official slogan of FIFA are not being displayed in this tournament? I mean the “SAY NO TO RACISM” and “FAIR PLAY”

Hezzyluv:
Make Trump dey take an easy na, this one na football game.

Hezzyluv:
Make Trump dey take an easy na, this one na football game.

BewareOf419:
Tell iran to host world cup, they should invest in sports and not in nukes and missiles!

BewareOf419:
Tell iran to host world cup, they should invest in sports and not in nukes and missiles!

Tenses:
Trump should take am easy the way Nigeria did with terrorists?

Do you know that Onanugu on Arise TV during an interview mentioned that Iranians was among the ISWAP and Boko haram killed by the army in Nigeria?

You don't take it easy with terrorists.

Fuckyoumod:
you no happy sey them no blow up the stadium?

Terrorism and Iran na bread and butter

BewareOf419:
Tell iran to host world cup, they should invest in sports and not in nukes and missiles!

Tenses:
Trump should take am easy the way Nigeria did with terrorists?

Do you know that Onanugu on Arise TV during an interview mentioned that Iranians was among the ISWAP and Boko haram killed by the army in Nigeria?

You don't take it easy with terrorists.

NinjaMetahuman:
I'm sure they would love to if Fifa is not a corrupt organization going after just money

ReturnMan:
If it was your sorry axx country that got bombed like that, you would have made a video prostrating to Trump and begging BiBi for your lives.

Since you lack the concept of being a man on your feet

ReturnMan:
If it was your sorry axx country that got bombed like that, you would have made a video prostrating to Trump and begging BiBi for your lives.

Since you lack the concept of being a man on your feet

adabaraabdul:
They would def be investing in sports. They do have their domestic leagues too and that they are playing in the WC shows some form of sports development. Investment in nukes and missiles is for self defense and preservation just like any reasonable country should. It is so sad there is too much political interference with this WC tournament. As usual though.

HacheNoire:
Even the ones that got full entry are being subjected to humiliations!

Uruguayan team was subjected to terrible humiliation with sniffer dogs.

Senegal was welcomed with a search RIGHT ON THE TARMAC.

FIFA really lost it.

Did anyone observe that official slogan of FIFA are not being displayed in this tournament? I mean the “SAY NO TO RACISM” and “FAIR PLAY”

BewareOf419:
Tell iran to host world cup, they should invest in sports and not in nukes and missiles!

adabaraabdul:
They would def be investing in sports. They do have their domestic leagues too and that they are playing in the WC shows some form of sports development. Investment in nukes and missiles is for self defense and preservation just like any reasonable country should. It is so sad there is too much political interference with this WC tournament. As usual though.

BewareOf419:
Tell iran to host world cup, they should invest in sports and not in nukes and missiles!

adabaraabdul:
They would def be investing in sports. They do have their domestic leagues too and that they are playing in the WC shows some form of sports development. Investment in nukes and missiles is for self defense and preservation just like any reasonable country should. It is so sad there is too much political interference with this WC tournament. As usual though.

Bittersweetnig:
IRAN would have been more beautiful than UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qater all together If They invested in good infrastructure but instead they focus on ballistic Bombs that Isreal can easily waste mid air

ReturnMan:
In a democracy, the opinion of the unintelligent holds the same value as that of the intelligent.

Turning a debate into a spectacle... No wonder the unintelligent ones vote has been keeping Nigerians in a place.

PotatoSalad:
I was hoping iran would wait until few days to the world cup and pull out.
Scatter everything.
Tbh US shouldn't be allowed to host the world cup again ever.