Maradona - visa joy tempered. (Allsport)

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Diego Maradona finally secured a Japanese visa the day before Argentina were knocked out of the World Cup.

Japan, co-hosts of the World Cup with South Korea, initially rejected an earlier application by the controversial superstar, now resident in Cuba, to visit for the duration of the tournament.

Although booked as a television commentator for Argentina's cup games, he was told that under Japanese law he could not have a visa because of a drug conviction.

However, a representative of the Cuban foreign ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the former Barcelona and Napoli legend would be allowed to make the trip.

"An agent of Maradona came today to the embassy in Havana on Tuesday at 1230 and collected the visa," he said.

Maradona, now 41, was banned for 15 months in 1991 by the Italian football federation after testing positive for an illegal substance.

It was not the first time the Japanese had refused him a visa - in 2000 he unsuccessfully applied for one to see the final of the Intercontinental Cup in which Argentina's Boca Juniors beat Real Madrid.

Maradona had planned to travel to Tokyo on Thursday but was expected to change his mind after Wednesday's 1-1 draw with Sweden meant Argentina were eliminated.