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Iranian winger Mehdi Torabi has received a new multiple-entry U.S. visa, clearing the way for him to rejoin Iran's national team for the remainder of the World Cup, the team's media department said Wednesday.
The visa was issued following joint efforts by the Iran Football Federation and FIFA, according to a team statement. A multiple-entry visa allows a traveler to enter the same country more than once during the visa's validity period. This is a key issue for Iran because the team is based in Mexico while playing its group-stage matches in the United States.
According to the Iranian federation, visas issued to members of the national team were generally valid for multiple entries, but Torabi's visa was issued for only a single entry.
That created a problem after Iran's opening match in Los Angeles, as the team was required to return to its base in Mexico. It was not permitted to stay overnight in the U.S.
With the new visa, Torabi is now cleared to travel to the United States and link up with the squad again.
The development comes after a series of visa-related challenges affected members of Iran's delegation, amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Although the two countries have agreed to a framework aimed at ending the war, Iran has kept its base in Mexico because of security concerns. That arrangement means the team must travel in and out of the U.S. for its World Cup group-stage fixtures.
Iran will face Belgium in its second Group G match on Sunday in Los Angeles, before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
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