Torabi solves visa issue but US confirms Iran must leave after games

Iran forward Mehdi Torabi will be able to continue playing at the World Cup after solving a visa issue, the Iranian football federation said on Tuesday, but the United States has reaffirmed that the squad must leave the Us after each game.

Previously, his visa had been declared invalid after his initial entry to the United States for the opener against New Zealand on Monday in Los Angeles, which finished 2-2.

While the other Iranian players were issued with visas allowing multiple entries into the US, Torabi was reportedly only granted permission for a single entry for the New Zealand game.

But he has now been issued a second visa, which should allow him to enter the US without any problems for Iran’s remaining group stage matches against Belgium in LA and Egypt in Seattle.

Iran’s participation at the World Cup has been hampered by the country’s war with the United States and the deal to end the conflict has not eased their difficulties.

The team was not allowed to stay overnight in the US following their first match, being forced to return to their base in Mexico. However, they are being allowed to stay the night before matches.

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director for the White House World Cup Taskforce, confirmed to reporters that Iran could continue to come the day before games but that there was enough time after matches for them to go straight back to Tijuana.

Coach Amir Ghalenoei has said the team is the “most oppressed” at the World Cup.

Torabi is at the tournament as a replacement for the former Bayer Leverkusen player Sardar Azmoun, who was accused of unpatriotic behaviour. Torabi did not play against New Zealand.

While Azmoun had repeatedly criticized the Islamic system in Iran in recent years, Torabi – who plays for Tractor in the Iranian top flight – is regarded as extremely loyal to the regime.

He also openly supports the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who are on the US list of terrorist organizations.