Iran’s football federation has said it will lodge an official complaint with FIFA, alleging that the national team is facing travel restrictions during the 2026 World Cup in North America, reports AFP.
The federation claimed its request to fly from its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to Los Angeles two days before their next Group match against Belgium was rejected. Iran were scheduled to play the match in Los Angeles on Sunday.
A spokesman for the Iranian federation said the team had submitted its preparation plan well in advance, but was still denied permission to adjust its travel schedule for training and match preparation.
The spokesman added that the federation had requested early arrival to allow players to adapt to match conditions and complete final training sessions ahead of the game, which is scheduled for 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles.
Iran also expressed frustration over being required to leave Los Angeles shortly after their opening match, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand, which they said disrupted recovery and preparation plans.
The federation further stated that it would formally raise its concerns with FIFA through the appropriate channels.
However, the US administration has rejected the allegations. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said Iran had been informed in advance that they would only be allowed entry into the United States one day before matches and would leave on match day after the final whistle.
He added that the same arrangement would apply to Iran’s final group match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Iran’s World Cup buildup has already been disrupted due to the regional conflict in the Middle East, forcing a change in their training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana near the US-Mexico border. The federation also claimed that several team officials were denied US visas ahead of the tournament.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
