MEXICO CITY, Mexico — The first booth World Cup fans encounter at the global fan expo in Mexico City’s Chapultepec Park belongs to Iran.
Inside, women in colorful headscarves serve sambuseh, a traditional Persian pastry, alongside stuffed dates. Persian rugs hang beside vases. The welcoming scene stands in sharp contrast to the reception Iran has received from the U.S., where its national team will play its first match against New Zealand on Monday.
While Iran was one of the first nations to qualify for the World Cup, President Donald Trump has been lukewarm about the country’s participation since the conflict began in February, and the State Department did not approve visas for all members of the Iranian delegation.
POLITICO spoke with Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, through his Spanish translator at the expo before he departed for Tijuana, where Iran’s national team is training after moving its pre-tournament camp from Tucson, Arizona.
Pasandideh remarked on Iran’s relations with the United States at a delicate moment. The visa denials impacting some of the Iranian team’s coaching staff may have a negative impact on the team’s performance, he said.
But as the two countries move closer to a potential peace agreement, Pasandideh pointed to Iran’s decision to send its national team to compete on U.S. soil as evidence of Tehran’s posture.
“The fact of our presence in the U.S. in a time of war sends a signal: We are in favor of peace,” he said.
And he had a direct message for Trump.
“If the U.S. closes its eyes to Israel’s interests,” Pasandideh said, “Iran and the U.S. can be very good friends.”
Click here to read Sophia’s full conversation with Abolfazl Pasandideh.
