MEXICO CITY:
Iran’s soccer federation introduced on Tuesday that the nation’s World Cup workforce will fly to Los Angeles the day earlier than their opening group stage match in opposition to New Zealand.
The Iranian workforce can be primarily based in Tijuana in Mexico all through the match, regardless of taking part in their three first spherical matches in america.
Iran open their marketing campaign in opposition to New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, earlier than going through Belgium in the identical metropolis on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Their involvement has been overshadowed by the navy battle between Iran and america.
Whereas the gamers obtained the visas essential to enter america, 15 members of their help workforce in administration and administrative roles didn’t obtain them.
The visa dispute erupted simply days earlier than the World Cup kicks off on Thursday. The match is being collectively hosted by america, Mexico and Canada.
“In accordance with FIFA’s programme, the workforce delegation will journey to america on a constitution flight,” the Iranian federation’s spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi stated in a press release carried by Iran’s ISNA information company.
“The workforce will journey to the host metropolis at some point earlier than the match in opposition to New Zealand, and for the next two matches, we can be on the host venue two days earlier than the sport,” he added.
Iran’s Sports activities Minister Ahmad Donyamali individually warned in opposition to the show of sure symbols throughout matches.
“If, within the stadiums the place we play, we see any flag or image apart from that of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or if norm-breaking slogans are chanted, the workforce official will definitely have an obligation to cease the match,” he was quoted by Iran’s official IRNA information company as saying.
“It’s the duty of the organisers to rectify the state of affairs,” he added.
FIFA guidelines prohibit political symbols at World Cup matches.
