Iran wins four visa appeals but 11 delegation members still barred

Four members of Iran's World Cup delegation have successfully appealed against the rejection of their visa applications to enter the United States, but 11 other members remain barred from traveling to the country for the tournament, officials confirmed.

Visa Appeals and Outcomes

Of the 15 Iranian delegation members initially denied US visas, 10 submitted fresh applications after arriving in Mexico. Four of those appeals were successful, including a member of the team's technical staff working as an analyst and two officials from the federation's international department. The remaining six applicants were rejected again. They include Iran Football Federation (FFIRI) president Mehdi Taj, one of the federation's vice-presidents, two team administrators responsible for day-to-day operations, a media officer and a security officer. A second media officer chose not to reapply after the initial rejection.

Background and Context

Iran last week accused the US of denying visas to “integral” members of its national football team's backroom staff, after Washington officials said Iranian players had been given permission to travel. The team has already moved its World Cup base to Mexico over concerns stemming from the country being at war with the United States. Iran play New Zealand on 15 June in Los Angeles in their first game of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. They will return to the city to face Belgium on 21 June, before meeting Egypt in Seattle on 26 June.

Ticket Allocation Revoked

The country's World Cup group-stage ticket allocation for supporters was revoked by US officials earlier this week, though Fifa has insisted it is working to “maximise opportunities for Iranian supporters to attend matches”. The FFIRI had previously presented Fifa with a list of 10 conditions for their participation in the World Cup, including allowing players, coaches and officials who have completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). US secretary of state Marco Rubio had said Iran's players will be welcome at the tournament but individuals with links to the IRGC could face entry restrictions.

Broader Visa Issues

The rejection of visas for the Iranian delegation members is not the only visa issue to arise at the tournament. Fans from some nations have been barred from entry, while Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup. Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has criticised the body he led for 17 years over the visa issues, posting on social media: “A Fifa World Cup host country must guarantee two fundamental principles: the safety of the country - and the unrestricted entry of all qualified teams, officials and referees. The case of referee Omar Artan from Somalia is against one of these obligations. Fifa must never compromise the universality of football.” Blatter, 90, left the post following corruption allegations and was served with a six-year ban from all football, though a criminal case later cleared him of the charges.

Iran was not represented at a meeting of Fifa's annual congress in Vancouver in April after officials were turned away at the Canadian border, with Canadian officials citing the IRGC links of delegation members. Fifa does not place a limit on how many people are in a nation's World Cup delegation, though it will only cover costs of up to 50 individuals.