DHS to let Iranian soccer team enter US two days before World Cup match
the Iranian soccer team will be allowed to travel to Seattle two days before their match against Egypt, following a change in travel guidelines by the Department of Homeland Security amid the ongoing conflict in Iran. Previously, they could only spend 24 hours in the U.S., but now they can arrive early and will leave instantly after the match. The team will then travel to Tijuana, Mexico, for training, unlike other teams that typically stay longer in host cities. DHS emphasized that security measures are a priority, especially given threats against the team, including an attempt by an individual with ties to irans Islamic Revolutionary guard Corps to enter the U.S. on the team’s plane. The Iranian team’s training base was moved from Arizona to mexico in May. The situation occurs amidst tense US-Iran relations, with recent peace talks including US demands for Iran to halt nuclear weapons development. President Trump announced Iran’s agreement to allow nuclear inspections, though Iran stated it has no plans to allow inspectors at uranium enrichment sites. The Iranian team also threatened to file a complaint with FIFA regarding their treatment during this period.
The Iranian soccer team will be permitted to travel to Seattle two days early after the Department of Homeland Security changed the guidelines placed on the team amid the ongoing war in Iran.
The team will be allowed to travel ahead of its match against Egypt on Friday. For previous matches, the team was permitted to spend 24 hours in the U.S. The team must still depart for its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, following the match, unlike other teams, who are generally allowed recovery time in the match cities.
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“Ahead of the match in Seattle on June 26, the Iranian team will be allowed to come in match day minus two, so two days before the match,” a DHS spokesperson told NBC News. “They’ll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match.”
“Again, the president wants to make sure that we’re talking about what actually happens on the pitch,” the statement continued. “A lot of that is making sure that things are safe and secure, not just around the stadiums, but around base camps and training sites.”
The policy change comes as the Iranian team threatened to file an official complaint with FIFA, the World Cup’s governing body, over its treatment in the United States. To emphasize the need for strict security surrounding Iran’s team, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin disclosed that a man with “direct ties” to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps tried to enter the U.S. on the Iranian team’s plane.
The Iranian soccer federation was originally slated to have its training base in Tucson, Arizona, until being relocated to Mexico in May.
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Iran earned a spot in the World Cup before the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on the country in late February. In recent weeks, the U.S. and Iran have engaged in peace talks, with the U.S. demanding that Iran halt its development of nuclear weapons.
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the Iranians “fully and completely” agreed to allow nuclear inspections by United Nations’ watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. At the same time, Tehran said there were “no plans” for inspectors to return to its uranium enrichment sites.
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