Iran says winger Mehdi Torabi faces a visa-related problem for the FIFA World Cup in the United States, with his initial entry permission expiring shortly after Iran plays. Multiple outlets report that Torabi was initially granted only a single-entry US visa, unlike other Iranian national team players who received multiple-entry visas for the tournament. After Iran’s match against New Zealand in Los Angeles, Torabi’s visa is said to expire, prompting concern about his ability to re-enter the United States for subsequent games.
Iran’s Football Federation and team officials say they take action to resolve the issue. They report coordinating with FIFA and seeking a new visa so Torabi can remain available for later matches, including Iran’s upcoming fixtures after the New Zealand game. Al-Monitor and Yahoo Sports state that after efforts by the Football Federation and coordination with FIFA, Torabi is ultimately issued a multiple-entry US visa, allowing him to travel with the squad for the remainder of the tournament. Al Jazeera adds that the team expects Torabi may need to leave the United States hours after each match before re-entry is secured.
