Egyptian delegation prevented from going to Seattle after World Cup triumph, generating change of plans for the team
Egypt’s national team faced an unexpected obstacle last Sunday (21), shortly after securing a 3-1 victory against New Zealand in Vancouver, Canada, during their participation in the group stage of the World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Federation confirmed that the team was barred from continuing its trip to Seattle, in the United States, where it was supposed to remain until the game against Iran, scheduled for Saturday (27), in the final round of Group G of the world tournament.
With the refusal of the United States authorities, the technical team was forced to change the schedule quickly. The new route took the delegation to Spokane, in the state of Washington, approximately 450 kilometers from Seattle, which became the new base for the athletes.
Coach Hossam Hassan clarified that the initial planning aimed to spare the players from physical fatigue after the victory over New Zealand. “Our intention was to travel directly to Seattle, avoiding further travel before the crucial game against Iran”, declared the coach.
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This incident adds to a series of migratory challenges faced by several delegations during the current edition of the World Cup in the United States. Such restrictions, often unexpected in major international events, have generated discussions about the logistical complexity and protocol treatment of athletes and technical committees in host countries with stricter border policies. The Iran team, for example, had also encountered similar obstacles when trying to enter and leave the country for their group stage games.
Another widely publicized episode involved Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was prevented by immigration authorities from entering the United States to fulfill his match schedule and ended up being deported.
Egypt currently occupies the lead in Group G, accumulating four points before the final round. Soon after, Iran and Belgium compete for positions with two draws in their two matches, while New Zealand remains in last place with just one point.
