JAKARTA - Iran insists that the United States, as host of the 2026 World Cup, must provide visas to the Iranian national football team regardless of the political differences between the two countries.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said his government was making "every effort" to ensure there were no obstacles for the Iranian national team when participating in the World Cup in the US.
"Our players will leave for the United States solely for the World Cup," Baghaei was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency as reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Thursday, May 7.
He said the host country must have a clear commitment to ensure that visas for Iranian team members are issued "without considering political issues."
Baghaei also expressed hope that FIFA would take the necessary steps "to maintain its credibility," while referring to the latest developments that considered the Iranian team "unfit for FIFA."
Iran, he said, would use "all available capacities" to facilitate its national team.
Referring to the absence of diplomatic relations between Iran and the US, Baghaei said the Iran Affairs Section in Washington - a small office under the protection of the Pakistani Embassy - was ready to provide the necessary assistance.
When asked about the Iran-US peace negotiations, Baghaei declined to comment.
"For now, we are focusing on sports," he said.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Iran are scheduled to play two games in Los Angeles against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before facing Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28, which Iran responded to by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East and blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
The ceasefire came into effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a permanent agreement. The ceasefire was then extended by US President Donald Trump indefinitely.
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