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The Guardian World1 min read
Iranian officials absent from pre-World Cup football events in Canada
TL;DR
Iran's football federation officials were absent from a key pre-World Cup meeting in Canada, raising concerns about their participation in the tournament. Visa issues may have impacted their ability to attend both the AFC Congress and the World Cup starting June 11.
Key points
- Iran's football federation officials were absent from the AFC Congress
- Visa issues may have affected their attendance
- Concerns about Iran's participation in the World Cup
- The World Cup starts on June 11
- The tournament is hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico
Mentioned in this story
Iran Football FederationGianni InfantinoCanadaUnited StatesMexico
World Cup
Representatives from Iran’s football federation were not present at the largest formal meeting of Asia’s football leaders before the World Cup.
In the presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, there was no discussion at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress about Iran’s participation in the tournament or whether the team’s games should be moved out of the United States because of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Concerns were raised that visa issues could affect the Iranian delegation’s ability to travel to both the confederation meeting in Vancouver and the overall FIFA Congress on Thursday, as well as the World Cup starting on June 11.
The 48-team tournament is being hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
It was not clear if visa issues prevented Iranian representatives from attending the AFC Congress. However, as the nine AFC teams that qualified for the World Cup were presented with commemorative gifts, it was announced that Iran would receive their token “once they arrive”.
An Iranian government spokesperson said last week that the national team was preparing for “proud and successful participation” in its World Cup games in the United States.
FIFA, football’s international governing body, has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup game schedule decided last December, before the US and Israel launched military attacks on Iran on February 28, and has refused to entertain suggestions that the team’s games be moved to Mexico.
“Now even more, now that the world is going through a very, very delicate, difficult, dangerous time with many conflicts, and many of you are directly affected and involved in these conflicts,” Infantino told the AFC leaders.
“Now even more, we need to find ways to build these famous bridges, or maybe to build football fields instead. And to build competitions where people can join and come together.”
Iran are placed in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt.
Team Melli’s planned training camp would be in Tucson, Arizona, and they are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign on June 15 against New Zealand in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles.
Iran will play Belgium in Inglewood on June 21 before facing Egypt in the final group match in Seattle on June 26.
Q&A
Why were Iranian officials absent from the AFC Congress in Canada?
Iranian officials were absent due to potential visa issues that may have hindered their travel to the meeting.
What are the implications of Iran's absence from pre-World Cup events?
Iran's absence raises concerns about their participation in the World Cup and whether their games might be relocated due to geopolitical tensions.
When does the World Cup start and where is it being hosted?
The World Cup starts on June 11 and is being hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.
