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Wonders of the World/ Costa Rica cancels the friendly because of passport stamps. Clothes remain hostage in Iraq

2022-11-17 18:25:43, Sport CNA

Costa Rica, one of the representatives participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has faced a small setback a few days before the start of the tournament. The representative from North America had planned to play this midweek against Iraq in a friendly in Basra. But the challenge was canceled because of the stamps in the passport.

It was the president of the Costa Rican federation, Rodolfo Villalobos himself, who explained at the press conference what happened and the reasons for the cancellation of the preparatory match, after the events on the border between Kuwait and Iraq.

"There were really difficult moments of tension at the border. It all came about because we came from Kuwait and the Iraqis wanted us to put their country's stamps on our passports. But in the meetings we had with the Iraqi ambassador in Kuwait, as well as with the Minister of Sports, we received the guarantee through an official letter, that this stamp would not be placed on our documents", explained Vijalobos, who then explained why Kosta Rika did not want to stamp the players' passports.

"Some of our players play in the MLS. But after the World Cup they would not be able to return to the USA, as the authorities there would not allow them to enter this country if they had Iraqi stamps in their passports", he declared, making it clear that this had prompted the delegation to return to Kuwait and cancel the friendly.

But from this whole situation, another big problem has arisen. Before the players stopped with their bus at the border, the bus that had the material base of the Costa Rica representative, with clothes, balls and everything else, had passed on the other side. He was already in Iraq and it is not yet known when he can return to their disposal.





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