DHS says Iranian World Cup players to enter US day before matches

Iran’s national football team will be able to enter the United States the day before each of their World Cup matches in the group stage, the Department of Homeland Security said on Tuesday.

Iran's team is currently training in Tijuana, Mexico and will play three World Cup matches in the US.

According to media reports, the Iranian ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh said that Iran's team would have to enter and leave the US the same day as they were playing, raising questions over logistics.

However, the reports have been denied by the Department of Homeland Security.

"These statements are untrue," the spokesperson said in a statement. "Thanks to the generosity of President (Donald) Trump the Iranian team will be able to arrive the day before their matches."

The ambassador, speaking to Reuters in Tijuana via an interpreter on Monday, slammed US officials for denying visas to some of the Iranian football federation staff but said that the ones who had been allowed to enter did not prevent them from staying overnight.

"Their visas don't specify anything about them having to leave at a certain time," he said.

The US has granted visas to all the players on Friday, just 10 days before their first ​match, after weeks of uncertainty.

According to Iran’s football federation, several key members of the Iranian squad for the World Cup were denied visas, including "key managerial and administrative members."

The members who were not given visas include two team analysts, the team manager and the media director and a representative of the Foreign Ministry, according to Iran's embassy in Mexico.

Iran will face New ⁠Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 ​and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

The players were originally scheduled to train in Arizona, but that was changed after the US and Israel's war against Iran started in February.

The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19 in the US, Canada and Mexico.