Iran’s ambassador to Mexico said his nation’s soccer squad still had not ​received their U.S. visas just 10 days before their first World Cup match in Los Angeles, raising the possibility that the team won’t ‌be able to compete in the tournament amid a continuing conflict between the two countries.

“We will keep trying until the final moment to enter (the U.S.) and play,” Abolfazl Pasandideh said, speaking through a Spanish interpreter at the Iranian embassy in Mexico City.

Pasandideh described a frenetic few weeks navigating a nine‑hour time difference with Tehran while negotiating a last-minute move of the team’s base ​from Arizona to Tijuana 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.

They are scheduled to land in Tijuana early Sunday morning.

“Sport and the World Cup were created to ⁠bring nations closer together. But we are not witnessing that right now,” Pasandideh said.

The U.S. has never formally said it did not want the Iran team to stay ​on its territory, the ambassador said.

“But through its actions, it has shown that Iranians have no place there,” he added, praising Mexican officials for welcoming the team and ​fast-tracking their visas.

The White House and U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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.

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.

Iran’s desire to compete in the tournament underscores its efforts to resolve the war with Washington, Pasandideh said.

“Iran’s ​participation in the World Cup — even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy — shows that Iran seeks peace,” he said.

SLOW PROGRESS IN PEACE TALKS

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.

But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted on state TV on Wednesday as saying that no “tangible progress” has been made in negotiations to end the war, which is entering its fourth month.

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 Revolutionary Guards, a powerful branch of ​the Iranian armed forces.

That could apply ​to several players in the Iran ⁠squad who have completed mandatory military service with the group.

The team are scheduled 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.

The squad ​plan to fly to the U.S. on a private plane on match days and return to Tijuana the same day, ​the ambassador said. If ⁠that proves unfeasible, they will travel by bus.

The drive between Tijuana and Los Angeles takes around 2-1/2 hours, but can easily stretch into four or more hours depending on traffic and lines at the border.

It is unclear how the team would manage to travel by bus to Seattle, a drive of at least 20 hours, if they were not ⁠able to ​fly.

The uncertainty over visas has left the Iran team at a competitive disadvantage and in physiological ​limbo because of the logistical challenges, Pasandideh said.

Still, he insisted that Iran and the U.S. could establish friendly relations once the war is over.

“We do our best to convince the people of the United States ​that we have no problem with them and only have problems with (U.S. President) Donald Trump’s policies,” he said.

-Reuters

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed sympathy to players and officials of Rivers United FC following a road accident involving the team while travelling to Awka, Anambra State, for their President Federation Cup Round of 16 fixture against Nasarawa United.

The incident occurred around the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road on the outskirts of Port Harcourt as the team was making its way to Awka ahead of Saturday’s crucial encounter.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said the federation received the news of the accident with shock but was grateful that there were no fatalities.

“The NFF received with shock the news of the road accident involving your players and officials around Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road on the outskirts of Port Harcourt while on the way to a President Federation Cup Round of 16 match in Awka, Anambra State.

“While we thank God that there were no fatalities, we empathise with those who sustained minor injuries in the accident and wish them a quick recovery,” Sanusi stated.

Reports indicated that some members of the Rivers United contingent sustained minor injuries in the accident, but no lives were lost.

The Port Harcourt-based club is scheduled to face Nasarawa United in the Round of 16 of the 2026 President Federation Cup on Saturday in Awka. Kick-off is set for 4 p.m., with the winner advancing to the quarter-finals of Nigeria’s oldest football competition.

The NFF’s message adds to the growing support for the players and officials affected by the unfortunate incident as they continue preparations for the knockout tie.

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Nigeria women’s national under-17 football team have returned to camp in Ikenne-Remo following their emphatic 5-0 victory over Guinea women’s national under-17 football team in Abidjan as preparations intensify for the decisive second leg of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Flamingos, bronze medallists at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, travelled back to Nigeria on Sunday after a dominant first-leg performance in Côte d’Ivoire placed them firmly in control of the qualifying tie.

The Nigerian delegation departed Abidjan aboard ASKY Airlines at 9:35 a.m. local time and arrived in Lomé, Togo, an hour later before continuing their journey home from the Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport.

The team eventually arrived at their training base in Ikenne shortly after midnight.

Attention has now shifted immediately to the return leg scheduled for Sunday, May 30, at the Remo Stars Stadium.

With a five-goal advantage already secured away from home, the Flamingos will be aiming to complete the task in front of their home supporters as Nigeria continues their quest for qualification for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The convincing victory in Abidjan has further strengthened confidence within the camp as the young Nigerian side moves closer to another appearance on the global stage.

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