The Iranian football federation says it will file an official complaint with FIFA, alleging that its national team is being subjected to restrictive travel arrangements during the FIFA 2026 World Cup in North America.
Iran, currently based in Tijuana, Mexico, had requested permission to fly into the United States two days before their next Group G match against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday. However, the request was denied, according to a federation spokesperson.
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“Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran’s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organisers, affecting the implementation of its technical staff’s plans,” the spokesman said.
The federation said the proposed early arrival was intended to allow players adequate time to adapt to conditions, complete training sessions, and finalise tactical preparations ahead of the match.
“Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied,” the spokesman added.
“The federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with FIFA through the appropriate channels.”
US side defends travel protocol
The Iranian team had also expressed frustration after being required to leave Los Angeles on the night of their opening match, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand.
However, the US administration has rejected claims of unfair treatment.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said Iran had been informed in advance of standard travel protocols.
“The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match,” Giuliani told CBS News. “They’ll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match.”
He added that the same arrangement would apply to Iran’s final group match against Egypt in Seattle.
Disrupted build-up to tournament
Iran’s World Cup preparations have been affected by wider geopolitical tensions in the region. The team relocated its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana shortly before the tournament began, while the federation claims several officials have been denied US visas.
Despite the off-field challenges, Iran remain focused on their campaign as they prepare for a decisive clash with Belgium.
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