Italy’s repechage to the World Cup, new official request to FIFA

In recent days, U.S. authorities have issued visas for all Iranian national team players who will take part in the World Cup, but some members of the delegation have not been allowed to enter the U.S. These include the team manager, executive director, photographer and communications manager.

Intervening at the microphones of FIFA’s official TV, Team Melli captain Ehsan Hajsafi directly addressed the organization headed by Gianni Infantino: “So far, visas have been issued to the players and some members of the technical staff but unfortunately not to several key figures of the technical and management staff, people whose role is extremely important for the team. From here I appeal to FIFA to address this situation and help resolve it in the coming days.”

“I am happy that our team has finally arrived in this city. Thank God the group is doing well, and after all the difficulties that were created for us, finally we players got the visas. While thanking those who helped solve the problem, I have to express my disappointment with FIFA for the long delay in granting them to us.”

On Iran’s prospects in the rainbow competition, Hajsafi added, “Football is unpredictable but we have been going through a very difficult period in recent months. In the past year, our country has faced two wars and the Iranian people have experienced very complicated times.”

“The players of the national team are also part of this people, so it was natural that the athletic preparation and the work leading up to the tournament would be affected. However, thanks to the planning of the technical staff, we had excellent training and high-level physical preparation.”