U20s and U23s

[Lucho]

10 minutes ago, juniorvarsity said:

I am not aware of any issues with Iran's participation in the World Cup(maybe they just played in Mexico and Canada?). Hopefully that means there will be no issues for U23s this year, 2027 Worlds, or the Olympics. 

Iran wasn't allowed to stay in the US during the world cup they would fly into the US 24 hours before their games as they were in Seattle and LA. I can pretty much guarantee you Iran will have visa issues for U23 and senior worlds without fail with certain coaches and staff not being let in. For the olympics I'm not too sure as that is a much more high stakes tournament but I wouldn't put it past the Trump administration. Under the current Iranian and US governments it is practically impossible for an event where both countries participating on US soil for it to be uneventful and unproblematic unfortunately.

[ionel]

1 minute ago, Lucho said:

Iran wasn't allowed to stay in the US during the world cup they would fly into the US 24 hours before their games as they were in Seattle and LA. 

The World Cup was held in Mexico, USA and Canada.  Every team had a home base for training, accommodations etc.  Obviously not all were in the USA. 

[Lucho]

14 minutes ago, ionel said:

The World Cup was held in Mexico, USA and Canada.  Every team had a home base for training, accommodations etc.  Obviously not all were in the USA. 

Their home base initially was scheduled to be in the USA but due to several members of staff and coaching not being provided their visas they had to relocate to Mexico. 

[Simpleman424]

15 minutes ago, ionel said:

The World Cup was held in Mexico, USA and Canada.  Every team had a home base for training, accommodations etc.  Obviously not all were in the USA. 

Yea but Iran had games in the US and was made to return back to Mexico between each game and return.

[Simpleman424]

20 minutes ago, Lucho said:

Iran wasn't allowed to stay in the US during the world cup they would fly into the US 24 hours before their games as they were in Seattle and LA. I can pretty much guarantee you Iran will have visa issues for U23 and senior worlds without fail with certain coaches and staff not being let in. For the olympics I'm not too sure as that is a much more high stakes tournament but I wouldn't put it past the Trump administration. Under the current Iranian and US governments it is practically impossible for an event where both countries participating on US soil for it to be uneventful and unproblematic unfortunately.

Was about to reply the same thing…I thought that was pretty stupid…

[ionel]

4 minutes ago, Simpleman424 said:

Yea but Iran had games in the US and was made to return back to Mexico between each game and return.

Mexico and Canada wouldn't even let the USMNT play in their countries.  Think it may have been because we renamed the Gulf and Canadian PM caught wind of Trump might do the same for Lake Ontario ... either that or we couldn't get visas.  

 

PS:  we did allow Canada to play in US.  

Edited August 30 by ionel

[ionel]

8 minutes ago, Simpleman424 said:

Yea but ...

Can't believe you gave me a "yeah but."  That's usually saved for the deplorables over on the NWT.  @MPhillips has a  for you and it and't on the front row. 

[RAFWiki]

Come inside Iran’s World Cup hotel in Tijuana, Mexico, where fans turn out to cheer

Showing up is important, some said, because of what they describe as unfair conditions imposed on the team. After the outbreak of war, the Iranian team was forced to move its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana. Eleven team officials and staff members did not receive U.S. visas. The U.S. has also denied Iran’s requests to arrive two days before matches — and mandated that the team must leave immediately after the game.

“Every little technicality is making it difficult for the team,” says Abbas Eftekhari, who was born in Iran and has lived in the U.S. for more than 40 years. “I think this is going to drain them psychologically and also physically.”

Iran’s soccer federation has been vocal about the obstacles, saying it would lodge a complaint with FIFA. 

“Football shouldn’t lose its power to politics,” Hedayat Mombeini, secretary-general of the Iran Football Federation, said Friday. He added that the restrictions “are certainly having a negative effect on us, but we are trying to overcome these problems with our Iranian pride.” 

[ionel]

6 minutes ago, RAFWiki said:

Come inside Iran’s World Cup hotel in Tijuana, Mexico, where fans turn out to cheer

Showing up is important, some said, because of what they describe as unfair conditions imposed on the team. After the outbreak of war, the Iranian team was forced to move its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana. Eleven team officials and staff members did not receive U.S. visas. The U.S. has also denied Iran’s requests to arrive two days before matches — and mandated that the team must leave immediately after the game.

“Every little technicality is making it difficult for the team,” says Abbas Eftekhari, who was born in Iran and has lived in the U.S. for more than 40 years. “I think this is going to drain them psychologically and also physically.”

Iran’s soccer federation has been vocal about the obstacles, saying it would lodge a complaint with FIFA. 

“Football shouldn’t lose its power to politics,” Hedayat Mombeini, secretary-general of the Iran Football Federation, said Friday. He added that the restrictions “are certainly having a negative effect on us, but we are trying to overcome these problems with our Iranian pride.” 

... and the other side of the story?  

[Simpleman424]

1 hour ago, ionel said:

Can't believe you gave me a "yeah but."  That's usually saved for the deplorables over on the NWT.  @MPhillips has a  for you and it and't on the front row. 

As long as it ain’t upside down…

25 minutes ago, ionel said:

... and the other side of the story?  

From everything I’ve seen on this one it was a pretty douche move on our part…there’s no real other side. The guys came to play soccer and got wrapped up in our politics. Of all the times you could have shown a positive image to people paying attention to the situation there you’d think being courteous and accommodating to the players would have been an absolute softball…

[ionel]

5 minutes ago, Simpleman424 said:

As long as it ain’t upside down…

From everything I’ve seen on this one it was a pretty douche move on our part…there’s no real other side. The guys came to play soccer and got wrapped up in our politics. Of all the times you could have shown a positive image to people paying attention to the situation there you’d think being courteous and accommodating to the players would have been an absolute softball…

Espn:  "Team Melli were originally going to have their World Cup training base in Tucson, Arizona, but at FIFA's suggestion, agreed to move their site to the Mexican border city of Tijuana."

FIFA suggestion they agreed.

Report was it was staff members no players coaches.

"U.S. authorities denied visas to several Iranian soccer staff members due to national security concerns and alleged individual ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)" 

Most of the news articles were one sided without direct references.  There was also an official/referee denied visa.  Would we have let in individual with ties to the Russian military?  

[Simpleman424]

7 minutes ago, ionel said:

Espn:  "Team Melli were originally going to have their World Cup training base in Tucson, Arizona, but at FIFA's suggestion, agreed to move their site to the Mexican border city of Tijuana."

FIFA suggestion they agreed.

Report was it was staff members no players coaches.

"U.S. authorities denied visas to several Iranian soccer staff members due to national security concerns and alleged individual ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)" 

Most of the news articles were one sided without direct references.  There was also an official/referee denied visa.  Would we have let in individual with ties to the Russian military?  

Yes.

[ionel]

12 minutes ago, Simpleman424 said:

Yes.

If a bad actor wants to get into the country what would be an easy way ... maybe attach yourself to a group already approved entry?

If some group wanted to blow up the Ohio St wrestling program and was pushing a guy, let's call him AJ Ferrari, as your new strength coach ... would you take him? 

 

PS:  we don't know what we don't know. 

Edited August 31 by ionel

[Simpleman424]

2 minutes ago, ionel said:

If a bad actor wants to get into the country what would be an easy way ... maybe attach yourself to a group already approved entry?

If some group wanted to blow up the Ohio St wrestling program and was pushing a guy, let's call him AJ Ferrari, as your new strength coach ... would you take him? 

 

PS:  we don't know what we don't know. 

The issues were with their coaches and I’ve spent enough time in the Intel community to know we could vet this properly…

Just because someone has ties doesn’t mean they’re involved in anything nefarious. Could have a sibling, cousin, a business contact that dabbles elsewhere etc. Calling it a national security threat was a cop out…

[ionel]

Just now, Simpleman424 said:

The issues were with their coaches and I’ve spent enough time in the Intel community to know we could vet this properly…

Just because someone has ties doesn’t mean they’re involved in anything nefarious. Could have a sibling, cousin, a business contact that dabbles elsewhere etc. Calling it a national security threat was a cop out…

True but we don't know what the State Department knew and they were still allowed in the country to play their matches. 

What did we know about the 9/11 "pilots?" 

[RAFWiki]

9 minutes ago, ionel said:

What did we know about the 9/11 "pilots?" 

We should ban anyone associated with Penn State from both World and Olympic competition

They appear to be politically compromised...

Edited August 31 by RAFWiki

[LJB]

As Odin as my witness…

I thought turkeys could fly…

[ionel]

27 minutes ago, RAFWiki said:

We should ban anyone associated with Penn State from both World and Olympic competition

They appear to be politically compromised...

You make a point. 

[Simpleman424]

33 minutes ago, ionel said:

True but we don't know what the State Department knew and they were still allowed in the country to play their matches. 

What did we know about the 9/11 "pilots?" 

Comparing pre and post 9-11 capabilities are night and day…and the fact that they were allowed in to participate in their matches despite their ties and possible “National Security Threat” status should tell you all you need to know…

[ionel]

8 minutes ago, Simpleman424 said:

Comparing pre and post 9-11 capabilities are night and day…and the fact that they were allowed in to participate in their matches despite their ties and possible “National Security Threat” status should tell you all you need to know…

Again I've seen nothing to suggest a problem with the players.  The "problematic staff" were not allowed to loiter in country.  

... but what about that strength coach ... would @MPhillips give him a free bus ticket?  

[RAFWiki]

It's funny how the same people crying "how dare RAF hold an event in Moscow!" fail to make the connection that they're only going there because Sadulaev still can't get his US visa approved. RAF Georgia wouldn't have happened if his visa wasn't being held in eternal limbo. 

Or, according to the tinfoil hats in this thread - maybe Sadulaev is a secret spy being sent by the Kremlin to damage America diplomacy in the 3 days he'd be in the US for a RAF event!

Phew - glad we avoided that close call!

Edited August 31 by RAFWiki

[Truzzcat]

12 hours ago, RAFWiki said:

It's funny how the same people crying "how dare RAF hold an event in Moscow!" fail to make the connection that they're only going there because Sadulaev still can't get his US visa approved. RAF Georgia wouldn't have happened if his visa wasn't being held in eternal limbo. 

Or, according to the tinfoil hats in this thread - maybe Sadulaev is a secret spy being sent by the Kremlin to damage America diplomacy in the 3 days he'd be in the US for a RAF event!

Phew - glad we avoided that close call!

Not sure that anyone here follows bodybuilding but Hadi Choopan who is Iranian and former Mr. Olympia will not be able to compete because he cannot be granted a Visa. The entire concept behind that is bewildering to me especially when you have such a solidified track record for these athletes, and it really hurts the sports they participate in.

[JMill]

[RAFWiki]

USA Wrestling responds to Dabir's threat

Alireza Dabir, president of Iran's Wrestling Federation, recently warned that if the US, as host of the 2026 U23 World Wrestling Championships, fails to issue a visa to even one member of Iran's team, Iran will not participate in the event.

"By denying visas, they're cutting off our teams at the head," Dabir had said. "We have the World Under-23 Championships coming up in October in the US. I've told the president of the international federation that if the US fails to issue a visa to even one team member, we will certainly not send the team. Whether we're there isn't what matters — how we're there is what matters."

Responding to a question from ISNA about the Iranian federation's warning, USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender said the organization is working hard to secure visas for all members of Iran's team to attend the World Championships. Citing the US's interest in having Iran's team compete in the event, he stressed: "We very much want all members of Iran's team to be able to participate in this event."

[Simpleman424]