The Iranian Football Federation has filed a complaint with FIFA regarding the travel restrictions imposed on its national team during the World Cup. The complaint concerns entry and stay restrictions in the United States, where Iran is scheduled to play its group matches. Iran argues that these restrictions prevent its team from preparing in the same way as other participating nations. The federation maintains that the inability to stay normally in the American host cities directly disrupts the team's technical training, physical recovery, and overall sporting organization.
24 hours on site, immediate departure
US authorities require the Iranian delegation to enter the country within 24 hours of its matches and to leave the United States on the day of the game. As a result, Iran must operate from its base in Mexico, with mandatory trips to the US cities where its matches are played. The Iranian national team had requested to travel to the host city two days before each match to adhere to its preparation, training, and recovery schedule. This request was denied for the first match against New Zealand, as well as for the subsequent match against Belgium in Los Angeles.
A regulation that provides for early arrival
The regulations for the 2026 World Cup stipulate that a team must travel from its base camp to the match city the day before the game, with the possibility of travel two days prior in certain cases. They also require a familiarization session in a stadium where a team has not yet played, either the day before or two days before the match. It is precisely on this point that Iran bases its protest: the federation claims that the restrictions applied to its delegation prevent the team from benefiting from the conditions provided for in the normal sporting organization of the tournament.
Belgium-Iran under logistical strain
Iran's next match against Belgium is scheduled for June 21 in Los Angeles. The constraint is all the more significant as the match is set to begin at noon local time, further reducing the recovery and adaptation time available to a team forced to travel from Mexico the day before. After their 2-2 draw against New Zealand, Iran had already been forced to return immediately to Tijuana instead of staying there to recover. Coach Amir Ghalenoei denounced this situation, which he believes has weighed heavily on his team since the start of the tournament.
A World Cup under political constraints
The issue goes beyond mere sporting organization. The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but Iran is playing its group matches on American soil amidst extremely tense diplomatic relations with Washington. Uncertainties surrounding visas and entry restrictions have already forced the Iranian national team to base itself in Mexico rather than the United States. The Iranian federation is not asking for preferential treatment. It is demanding the same conditions as other teams: arriving early enough, preparing for the match in the host city, having a normal recovery period after the game, and then returning to its home base without rushing.
FIFA now faces a problem of fairness
The complaint poses a central question for FIFA: can a national team be considered to be competing under fair conditions if it can only enter the host country on the eve of its matches and must leave immediately after the final whistle? At this stage, neither FIFA nor the US authorities have provided an immediate public response to Iran's protest. But the matter is now official: Iran believes its travel conditions are hindering its preparation for the World Cup and is asking the world governing body to intervene.
