Iran's World Cup players granted visas to play in the US
The team will play matches in the U.S. but is expected to lodge in Mexico.
Players on Iran's World Cup soccer team have received visas that will allow them to enter and compete in the United States, a U.S. official confirmed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the Trump administration had "no problem" with providing visas to Iran's team during his testimony on Capitol Hill earlier this week - but he said the administration would not allow the regime to use the event to bring in IRGC-affiliates.
"What we're not going to allow is for them to embed in their delegation a bunch of people that we know have nothing to do with athletics and have ties to the IRGC or things of that nature, so we were going to watch that very closely," he said.
The Iranian team will play matches in the U.S. but is expected to lodge in Mexico due in part to complications related to U.S.-imposed sanctions.
Iran's sports minister had said in March the nation's team would not participate in the global sporting event amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. A ceasefire has been in place since April 7.
The president of Iran's Football Federation Mehdi Taj later said the Iranian national team has qualified to participate in the World Cup and that it was their right to take part.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed in April that Iran would play in the tournament, including in the U.S.
This is a story in development. Please check back for updates.
