Iran beat Gambia as federation seeks FIFA clarity over visas

Iran have asked FIFA to clarify when tournament visas will be issued following the relocation of their World Cup training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, a senior official from the Islamic Republic's national football federation (FFIRI) said on ‌Friday.

The national team came from behind to beat Gambia 3-1 in a World Cup warm-up match in the Turkish city of Antalya, days after their tournament preparations were disrupted by a base camp relocation to Mexico following approval from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and FIFA.

Iran are scheduled to play all three of their group matches in the United States but the team's ⁠participation in the June 11 to July 19 tournament has been in question since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February.

The relocation followed diplomatic friction and visa complications, with Iran now requiring cross-border clearance for their Group G matches against New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Mehdi Mohammadnabi, first vice president of FFIRI, told Reuters that Iran had written to FIFA seeking a firm answer after earlier applying for visas.

"We sent an email to FIFA today and asked them to announce the result as soon as possible, to say on what day the visas ‌will ⁠be issued, because we now need both multiple-entry Mexican visas and multiple-entry U.S. visas," Mohammadnabi said.

"Based on the latest conversation we had, they replied that the administrative process will most likely be completed this week," he added.

Mohammadnabi said FIFA had proposed the Tijuana camp and Iran had accepted the arrangement.

"FIFA proposed this camp, ⁠and FIFA should tell you what has happened," he said. "In any case, we have accepted this camp, which is in the city of Tijuana in Mexico, and the team is ready to travel, which I think ⁠will take place in about a week."

"We are also surprised and hope this issue will be resolved as soon as possible," he added. "The focus of the national team and our players is ⁠only on their training."

Gambia led through Omar Colley before halftime, but Iran equalised through Aria Yousefi after the break before Ramin Rezaeian and Mehdi Taremi completed the comeback.

Source - Reuters

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