Iran World Cup players granted visas to enter the US, says White House official

(Reuters) – Iran’s World Cup soccer players have been granted visas to enter the United States, a White House official told Reuters on Friday, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles amid a conflict between the two countries._x000D_
_x000D_
Iran’s ​ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said late on Thursday the squad had still not received their U.S. visas but ​these were granted overnight, the White House official said._x000D_
_x000D_
A spokesman for Iran’s World Cup federation could ⁠not immediately be reached for comment._x000D_
_x000D_
The U.S. had not yet issued visas to some members of the Iran team’s technical and administrative staff, ​the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday._x000D_
_x000D_
“Visas for some members of the national team’s technical and executive staff have not ​yet been issued, and the U.S. embassy has so far refused to issue them,” it said, without citing a source._x000D_
_x000D_
The Iran war has turned the World Cup – the biggest global sporting event – into a geopolitical contest, with both sides appearing to use the tournament for political posturing._x000D_
_x000D_
It is the ​first World Cup, since its inception in 1930, in which a host nation is set to receive a country it is ​at war with._x000D_
_x000D_
Tehran negotiated a last-minute move of the team’s base from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico due to the visa issues and a ‌growing feeling ⁠in Iran that the squad’s presence in the United States should be kept to a minimum._x000D_
_x000D_
They are scheduled to land in Tijuana early on Sunday._x000D_
_x000D_
Iran are due to play their first Group G match on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, where they will also face Belgium before taking on Egypt in Seattle._x000D_
_x000D_
The U.S. had never formally said it did not want the Iran ​team to stay on its territory, ​ambassador Pasandideh said._x000D_
_x000D_
However, Secretary ⁠of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that the U.S. would not allow Iran to include in its World Cup delegation individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, a powerful branch of the Iranian armed ​forces._x000D_
_x000D_
Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s soccer federation, was denied entry for the tournament draw in ​Washington in December. He ⁠is a former commander in the Revolutionary Guards._x000D_
_x000D_
Iran’s desire to compete in the World Cup underscored its efforts to reach a resolution in the war with Washington, Pasandideh said._x000D_
_x000D_
“Iran’s participation in the World Cup — even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy — ⁠shows that ​Iran seeks peace,” Pasandideh said, speaking through a Spanish interpreter at the Iranian ​embassy in Mexico City._x000D_
_x000D_
Progress in peace talks between Iran and the U.S. has been slow, with both sides seemingly inching toward an interim agreement even as ​they continue to carry out military strikes.