White House Says No Issue With Iraqi Soccer Visas at World Cup

The U.S. is denying reports that it denied visas for five Iraqi men’s national team players ahead of the World Cup this summer.

The State Department sent a statement to Front Office Sports denying the reports attributed to Andrew Giuliani, who leads President Donald Trump’s World Cup Task Force.

“Currently, there are no known issues affecting the Iraq National Team players, and they remain on track to compete in the World Cup,” the statement reads. “We maintain daily communication with FIFA and will continue to prioritize these players in accordance with the President’s Executive Order, ensuring an incredible and safe tournament.”

Reports circulated online and on social media Tuesday that five players, including Luton Town’s Ali al-Hamadi, were denied visas. According to Iraqi news site The New Region, the Iraq Football Association told the outlet: “The news is false, and the truth is that all the national team players have obtained entry visas to America,” and said that players are also in the process of getting their Canadian visas.

Iraq is set to play group stage matches in Boston, Philadelphia, and Toronto in a stacked group that includes France, Senegal, and Norway. The Lions of Mesopotamia are back in the World Cup for the first time since 1986, having qualified through winning a FIFA playoff in March in Mexico, which also granted their visas despite logistical challenges including embassy closures due to the war in the Middle East.

The World Cup kicks off June 11. A record 104 matches will be played between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

The Trump administration has issued travel bans or bond requirements to travelers from numerous World Cup countries, but said it would carve out exceptions for World Cup players, staff, and immediate family members. Iraq is not on Trump’s list of banned countries, nor those that would require a bond of up to $15,000 for citizens visiting the U.S. But there is heightened concern for all travelers coming to the U.S. recently, as evidenced by the decrease in tourism in the last year and low hotel bookings for the World Cup.

Iraq’s neighbor, Iran, has had numerous visa issues related to the World Cup.

Federation president Mehdi Taj was recently denied entry into Canada for last month’s FIFA Congress. Several members of the federation were denied U.S. visas for the World Cup draw in December, and threatened to boycott the event, but some individuals eventually attended.

Over the weekend, Taj said that all players and staff, “especially” those who did their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, “should be granted visas without problems,” according to state-run media. According to U.K.-based Iran International, Taj is a former IRGC intelligence officer. The IRGC is designated as a terrorist organization in both the U.S. and Canada.

The federation laid out a list of 10 demands it needs to participate in the tournament, including guarantees for visas and increased security.

The State Department did not answer questions about the Iranian team’s visas.