Topline
The Department of Homeland Security is easing its tight visa restrictions against members of the Iranian World Cup team ahead of their match against Egypt and will allow the team into the United States 48 hours before the match begins, twice as much time as they were given to prepare for their first two matches earlier this month.
Key Facts
The team will be allowed to travel to Seattle on Wednesday, two days before their Friday game, but will have to leave the country the same day.
The post-game timeline is the same that was enforced after Iran’s games against New Zealand and Belgium, a tight travel schedule that members of the Iranian team and their coach have blasted as unfair treatment.
A Trump administration spokesperson told NBC News the restrictions are to make sure “things are safe and secure, not just around the stadiums but around base camps and training sites.”
The Iranian team was forced to relocate its basecamp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, earlier this month after American officials said members weren’t welcome to stay in the country (despite playing all their games in the U.S.) amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran war.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Iran’s team has the chance to extend its World Cup stint with a win against Egypt, which would guarantee the team a spot in the knockout stages, meaning it would play at least one additional game after the Egypt match.
CRUCIAL QUOTE
Iran’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, described his squad as “perhaps the most oppressed team in the whole World Cup.”
KEY BACKGROUND
Weeks after attacks from the U.S. and Israel killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February, Iranian Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali told state television, “definitely it’s not possible for us to take part in the World Cup.” He said the United States wouldn’t be a safe place for the team’s players “due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said President Donald Trump had assured him Iran would be “welcome” to compete despite the war, and Trump told reporters he “really didn’t care” if Iran played at the World Cup. Iran was confirmed to participate in April and the team asked its scheduled matches be moved to Mexico, but FIFA denied the request. The Iranian team was then unsure if it’d be granted U.S. entry until last-minute visas were approved on June 5—10 days before its opening match against New Zealand. Iranian fans aren’t allowed in the U.S. due to the ongoing war and active travel ban. For the Iranian fans who are able to attend, FIFA has explicitly banned pre-revolutionary Iran flags and apparel from the stadiums, saying security will only allow the official national flag of Iran to be flown at events. Many of the banned flags have still appeared inside stadiums.
TANGENT
Iranian players and coaches have complained about unfair treatment in the tournament due to the travel restrictions, and Iranian soccer authorities also claimed that ticket allocations for Iranian supporters were revoked or restricted. Those details have been disputed, however, and Iranian fans have largely been treated safely inside stadiums with no major reports of violence targeting supporters. The Iranian soccer team left a handwritten note addressed to the people of Los Angeles, which hosted its first two games of the World Cup, thanking the city for its hospitality. “We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor, and leave with dignity,” the note read. “Thank you to every Iranian who gave their heart, voice and soul for Iran throughout these 180 minutes. May Peace, respect, and friendship prevail among all nations.”