The Iranian Football Federation has announced that it will lodge a formal complaint with FIFA, alleging that its national team is being subjected to travel restrictions during the ongoing FIFA World Cup in North America.
According to the federation, officials had requested approval for the team to travel from its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, to Los Angeles two days before their Group Stage clash against Belgium scheduled for Sunday. However, the request was reportedly turned down by tournament organisers.
A spokesperson said Iran had submitted its full tournament preparation schedule well in advance, but continued to face limitations affecting the team’s planning and logistics.
“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 spokesperson said.
The federation explained that the requested travel arrangement was intended to give players enough time to adjust to local conditions, complete final training sessions, and finalise preparations for the match, which is set to kick off at noon in Los Angeles. It added that the request was again rejected despite the technical justification provided.
Iran stated that it would formally express its dissatisfaction and submit an official protest to FIFA through the appropriate channels.
Officials were also reportedly displeased after being required to leave Los Angeles immediately after their opening World Cup fixture, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand.
However, the United States administration has dismissed claims that the restrictions were imposed without prior notice. Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said Iran had been informed in advance that its delegation would only be permitted entry into the United States one day before each match.
“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 the match wraps up,” Giuliani told CBS News.
He added that the same arrangement would apply for Iran’s final group-stage game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Iran’s tournament preparations have also been affected by wider geopolitical tensions following recent unrest in the Middle East. Shortly before the competition began, the team relocated its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana near the US-Mexico border.
The federation further claimed that around 15 members of its delegation were denied visas to enter the United States, adding to its logistical difficulties. Despite the challenges, Iran remains in contention in Group A as it prepares for a decisive match against Belgium in its bid to reach the knockout stage.
