Iranian Football Federation Cites Restricted Preparations

The Iranian national football team is set to submit a formal complaint to FIFA concerning what it describes as restrictive travel arrangements during the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A spokesperson for the Iranian football federation announced on Thursday that these restrictions are impeding the team's logistical and technical preparations for the tournament.

According to the spokesperson, the team's detailed schedule for the competition was submitted well in advance, yet they have encountered limitations that have disrupted the plans formulated by the technical staff. These issues reportedly emerged prominently following their initial group stage match.

Request for Early Arrival Denied Ahead of Belgium Match

A key point of contention involves Iran’s request to travel from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to Los Angeles, United States, two days prior to their upcoming group stage fixture against Belgium. This match is scheduled for Sunday in Los Angeles.

The Iranian federation stated that its request for an earlier arrival was rejected. The team had sought this additional time to allow players to acclimate to local conditions, conduct a final training session, and complete all necessary preparations for the noon kickoff time in Los Angeles.

“Given that the game will be played at 12pm local time in Los Angeles, the football federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match,” the spokesman elaborated. “The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalise preparations. Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied.”

Post-Match Departure Requirements and Visa Handling Criticized

The travel challenges became particularly apparent after Iran’s opening World Cup match on Monday, which saw them draw 2-2 with New Zealand in Los Angeles. Following this encounter, US officials reportedly informed the Iranian team that they would be required to depart the United States within hours of the final whistle for their group games held in Los Angeles and Seattle.

This policy drew criticism regarding the handling of the Iranian team's visas and their stay in the US. The Iranian delegation, after their match in Los Angeles, reportedly left the country just hours after the game concluded, returning to their base camp in Mexico. This rapid departure meant the team did not have a full day to recuperate at a hotel, prompting concerns about the US's management of their travel logistics and visa conditions.

US Administration Clarifies 'Match Day Minus One' Policy

In response to the Iranian claims, the US administration has defended its stance. Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, clarified the US policy on Monday. He stated that Iran had been informed in advance that their entry into the US would be permitted only on the day preceding a match.

Giuliani explained to CBS News, “The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match. They’ll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And they’ll be able to do that again in Los Angeles.” He further indicated that this same procedure would apply to Iran's final group stage match against Egypt, scheduled for June 26 in Seattle.

Iran, competing in Group G, commenced its World Cup campaign in North America amidst a period of geopolitical tension, which had previously cast uncertainty over the team's participation in the tournament. The ongoing situation highlights the complex interplay between international sports and diplomatic relations.

Source: Iran to lodge complaint with FIFA over World Cup 2026 travel restrictions