The United States government has decided to relax travel rules for the Iranian football team participating in the World Cup, authorizing the athletes to arrive in North American territory two days in advance of the next match. The communication came from the US Department of Homeland Security this Tuesday, June 23.
However, the Iranian delegation will need to leave American territory shortly after Friday’s game, which will take place in Seattle, as explained by a representative of the security agency. The Iranian Football Federation, through a spokesperson, confirmed that the team will leave its concentration in Tijuana, Mexico, on Wednesday, heading to Seattle.
In an official statement, the Department of Homeland Security detailed that, for the Iranian national team’s third match, scheduled for June 26 in Seattle, permission for early entry was granted. The statement reinforces that the Iranian team must leave the country on the same day as the end of the match, and that normal security and routine protocols remain unchanged. The ministry guaranteed its commitment to ensuring maximum safety for everyone involved in the championship.
Andrew Giuliani, who serves as executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, clarified that the decision was part of planning. He mentioned that the evaluation of the first two trips would be decisive for granting the additional day of stay, considering the longer duration of the trips.
The Iranian team had been expressing dissatisfaction with the severe travel limitations imposed on the delegation, as well as with the various difficulties that had arisen since the beginning of the war. This scenario reflects geopolitical tensions that sometimes extend to sporting events, creating additional barriers for delegations from certain nations.
Prior to their debut in the competition, coach Amir Ghalenoei, from Iran, had already expressed his dissatisfaction with the logistics that required immediate travel after the games. He even stated that his team was feeling “oppressed” by the circumstances.
The 62-year-old coach reported other problems, including the team’s expectation of spending the night in Los Angeles on Monday, frustrated by the imposition of an immediate return to Mexico. The origin of this restriction, however, was not detailed by Ghalenoei.
In the first two rounds of the championship, held in Los Angeles, the team did not obtain authorization to travel before the day before the clashes. There was a relocation of the team’s base, which moved from Tucson, Arizona, to Mexico. Additionally, multiple managers and support staff members were barred from entering the US along with the rest of the team.
Although it is customary practice and in line with FIFA guidelines for teams to travel one day before the match, the Iranian delegation had formalized a request for an extended period. The objective was to have more time for acclimatization in the host cities and for physical recovery after the disputed matches.
After Sunday’s game, which resulted in a draw against Belgium, player Alireza Jahanbakhsh expressed the hope that the team could head to Seattle with the utmost urgency. The intention was to allow adequate adaptation to the place where the team will face the Egyptian team.
“We are not asking for anything excessive. We just want the standard treatment given to all the other 47 teams,” said the athlete. He also expressed the hope that all members of the support team would be able to accompany them on the trips.
Last Thursday, the Iranian federation announced that it had filed a formal complaint with FIFA. The organization argues that its team is receiving the most unfavorable treatment among all participants in the 2026 World Cup.