Overview
- FIFA’s secretary-general, who met Iran’s federation chief in Istanbul on Saturday, called the talks constructive and said the organization is working on guarantees to welcome the team to the World Cup.
- Iran’s federation says U.S. entry visas for members of its delegation have not been issued, which could slow the team’s move to its planned base in Tucson, Arizona.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino insists Iran’s matches stay at their original North American venues after Iran requested a switch to Mexico.
- The team plans a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, before relocating to the United States in early June and opening on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
- Access concerns sharpened after Canada denied entry to federation president Mehdi Taj for the FIFA Congress over alleged ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, which the U.S. and Canada designate as a terrorist group.