U23 World Championships:
Iran demands UWW action over US visa complications
Alireza Dabir, the chairman of the Iranian Wrestling Federation (IAWFIR), has called on United World Wrestling (UWW) to ensure smooth participation for his country at the upcoming U23 World Championships – starting October 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
In a phone conversation with UWW President Nenad Lalović on Tuesday, Dabir urged the sport’s international governing body to show “special oversight” on the matter amid an ongoing visa controversy for Iranian athletes.
With Iran and the United States engaged in a military conflict since February 28, potential entry denial for Iranians – who have completed their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – at sporting events has been a major focus of media coverage in recent weeks. This issue has been most significant regarding the FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada in June and July.
While U.S. President Donald Trump said in March that he considers it not “appropriate” for Iranian players to visit his country “for their own life and safety,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Iran’s players will be welcome, but indicated that some members of the Iranian Football Federation who “have ties to the IRGC” may experience difficulties.
“Iran is the world champion in different age-group categories in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, and a global powerhouse with a passionate wrestling public,” the IAWFIR quoted Dabir as saying in his conversation with the UWW’s Serbian chief.
“If the United States creates visa problems for our team, we – along with other wrestling nations – will demand a review of the country’s bid to host the Senior World Championships in 2027,” added the former world champion.
Iran bagged a total of 12 medals – including five golds – to claim the Greco-Roman team title, while finishing runner-up to Team USA in the freestyle event at the U23 Worlds last year in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Elsewhere in the hour-long conversation, Dabir delivered a stark report on war-inflicted damage to the national teams’ training facilities. “Heavy damage has been done, but reconstruction is proceeding at full speed,” Dabir said, adding that 29 wrestlers unfortunately were killed during five-and-a-half weeks of U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.
Guarantees required
Meanwhile, Mehdi Taj, the chief of the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI), says the country’s preparations for the World Cup remain on track, but its participation will depend on a guarantee of respect for the Iranian armed forces by tournament co-hosts the United States.
The FFIRI will seek reassurance from FIFA that the U.S. will not insult the IRGC during the World Cup, Taj said on Tuesday.
“[The] Americans, if they guarantee not to insult our military institutions and the IRGC, we’ll go,” Taj told state broadcaster IRIB.
“If they give such a guarantee that an incident like Canada doesn’t happen and they definitely assure it, we will go,” he added.
Taj – a former IRGC member – was referring to an incident that took place at Toronto’s Pearson Airport last week, when he and two of his colleagues at the federation abruptly left Canada, abandoning their onward trip to Vancouver for Friday’s FIFA Congress.
While several reports suggested that the Iranian officials were denied entry despite holding valid visas, the FFIRI said in a statement that it was the three-man delegation’s own decision to “return to Türkiye on the first available flight due to the unacceptable behavior of immigration officials at the airport and the insult to one of the most honorable organs of the Iranian nation’s armed forces.”
Upon arrival in Tehran, Taj said he will seek answers regarding certain issues about Iran’s World Cup participation in a meeting with FIFA officials in Zurich later this month.
Blaming the international governing body for “being intimidated by the United States,” Taj urged the organization to show “clarity” over the uncertain situation surrounding the national team.
Iran is set to begin its Group G campaign at the global showpiece against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, where it is also due to play Belgium six days later, before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.