Iran absent from FIFA Vancouver meetings due to visa issues
TEHRAN: Iran’s soccer federation was absent from a meeting of soccer leaders in Vancouver on Tuesday, leaving the country’s participation in the upcoming World Cup still in question. That topic wasn’t covered at the convening of Asia’s top soccer leaders today with FIFA president Gianni Infantino presiding, and Iran’s sports minister last week announced Iran’s plans to be “proud” participants in this summer’s World Cup hosted by the United States in North American venues. Yet the Iranian team and its officials still face visa complications, a fact underscored by their absence at Tuesday’s meeting. A report by The Athletic confirmed that Iran’s Tuesday absence was due to visa issues, a problem that could prevent their presence at the overall FIFA Congress gathering this Thursday. AFC general secretary Windsor John expressed some public optimism about Iran’s potential attendance at the larger gathering, saying that awards presented to each Asian qualifying country would be presented to Iran “once they arrive.” Iranian officials had previously encountered difficulty acquiring visas to attend the World Cup Draw in Washington D.C. last December.
