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GENEVA (AP) \u2014 Iranian soccer officials are expected to meet with FIFA in Zurich soon on the issue. world cup<\/span> The match will be held in America in June.<\/p>\nIranian soccer boss Mehdi Taj said on Friday that there were “many issues to discuss” upon his return to the country. canada he failed<\/span> attend FIFA Annual General Meeting<\/span> It was held in Vancouver on Thursday.<\/p>\nFIFA Secretary General Matthias Grafstr\u00f6m has invited an Iranian delegation to his headquarters by a May 20 deadline, a person familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue remains sensitive.<\/p>\n
Target date in Zurich is 3 weeks ago Iran representative<\/span> will be in the United States at a training base in Tucson, Arizona, in preparation for three group games in Inglewood, California and Seattle.<\/p>\n“Our position is that we will meet with FIFA soon,” Taj told Iranian media on Friday.<\/p>\n
Iran’s difficult road to the World Cup<\/h2>\n
Iran is Asia’s soccer powerhouse, but its ability and willingness to participate in the World Cup has been called into question since the United States and Israel launched a military offensive on February 28. The tournament is co-sponsored by Canada and Mexico.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, FIFA president Gianni Infantino reiterated his assertion at the start of his keynote address to world football leaders, with only Iran missing out of its 211 member federations: Iran will also come visit us.<\/span> As planned in America<\/p>\nLate Thursday at the White House, US President Donald Trump acknowledged his support for the Iranian team, adding: “If Gianni says so, I’m fine.”<\/p>\n
Trump and Infantino work closely together<\/span> Together with fans from several African countries beyond Iran, in preparation for the World Cup, which is fraught with challenges, Issuance of entry visa<\/span> and security concerns.<\/p>\nCanada arrival problem<\/h2>\n
Taj and two more Iranian officials had trouble arriving in Toronto this week on their way to Vancouver, where they were scheduled to attend the FIFA annual meeting.<\/p>\n
Taj, who is also vice president of the Asian Football Association, detailed on Friday his issues with Canadian authorities, although he was not deported.<\/p>\n
“In Canada, they asked us, ‘Are you members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps?’ We told them, ‘In Iran, we are 90 million people,'” Taj was quoted as saying in Iranian media.<\/p>\n
The Iranian soccer team arriving from Istanbul was detained for two hours at the Toronto airport before being told they could continue their journey.<\/p>\n
“There was some discussion and he said, ‘It’s up to you,’ and we decided as a group to go back to Istanbul,” Taj said. “They didn’t officially deport us and there was nothing in our file that said we were deported, but that’s what it was.”<\/p>\n
Taj had a valid visa to enter Canada. rejected by the US<\/span> On December 5th, Infantino attended the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., where he met President Trump. 1st FIFA Peace Prize<\/span>.<\/p>\niran world cup match<\/h2>\n
Iran will face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in their World Cup group matches from June 15th to 26th. The first two games will be played at the Los Angeles Rams’ NFL stadium, and the third game will be played at the Seattle Seahawks’ stadium.<\/p>\n
If Iran finishes second in its group, the team could face the United States in the Round of 32 at Dallas Cowboys Stadium on July 3.<\/p>\n
Iran’s soccer league has been closed since the start of the war and is not scheduled to resume in time for the World Cup. The team played two warm-up games at a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, in March and could return there this month in preparation for the World Cup, which starts on June 11.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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