The dispute erupted just days before Thursday’s kick-off.

All of Iran's group games are in the US, but players and support staff will have to fly in and out of the country on match day.

All of Iran's group games are in the US, but players and support staff will have to fly in and out of the country on match day.

Iranian state TV said the players and their technical staff had received visas, but 15 others on the administrative and management side had not.

Iranian state TV said the players and their technical staff had received visas, but 15 others on the administrative and management side had not.