Iran player's World Cup tournament plunged into chaos as visa expires day after first game

Iran have been dealt a major blow after one of their players' visas expired just hours after their opening World Cup fixture.

After a chaotic build-up with many complications with visa applications and a forced relocation to a base in Tijuana, Mexico, Iran kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 draw with New Zealand at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

They then returned immediately after the game to prepare for their next fixture which also takes place at the SoFi Stadium against Belgium on Sunday 21 June.

But they have been rocked after one of their stars learned that his visa had ran out.

According to AFP, citing state news agency IRNA, winger Mehdi Torabi only had a single visa entry instead of the multiple-entry visa.

Though a large amount of staff and officials did have visa applications rejected, all of the players participating did obtain visas - though there has been issue regarding the documentation for Torabi.

READ MORE: Iran player speaks out after being accused of controversial World Cup celebration

As per IRNA, the Iranian Football Federation "has taken steps to obtain a new visa for Torabi, so that he can accompany the national team in its upcoming matches”.

Captain Mehid Taremi is also understood to have had difficulties at LAX airport while Iran prepared to board a flight back to Tijuana.

All three of Iran's group games are in the United States, with their last fixture taking place against Egypt in Seattle.

Torabi plays his football with Tractor in the Persian Gulf Pro League and has played 52 times for his country.

Iran manager fumed at FIFA decision after World Cup opener

Iran's players and staff have been very vocal about their treatment for the tournament and received a visit from FIFA president Gianni Infantino in their dressing room after the game.

Infantino gave a rallying speech where he said the team are "sending such a strong message to the entire world".

But after the opener, manager Amir Ghalenoei spoke out about the unprecedented situation Iran find themselves in.

He revealed that they were unable to stay in California overnight and told they had to head straight back to their base in Tijuana

“After the game today they said to us, ‘You have to leave immediately,’” he stated.

“Whereas today it’s very important for us to have recovery.

“We’ve been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that. They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult, more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best.

"It seems like others are doing the planning for us. We were supposed to arrive two nights before the game but they didn’t permit [it]. We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime."

Ghalenoei went on say that the team is "the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup", following on from the conflict with the United States.