By Zoey
The United States has relaxed travel restrictions imposed on Iran’s national football team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, allowing the squad to arrive in Seattle two days before its upcoming group-stage match, a move that provides the players with additional time to prepare after weeks of logistical challenges.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed Tuesday that Iran’s delegation will now be permitted to enter the United States earlier than previously allowed. Under the revised arrangement, the team will travel from its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to Seattle on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s match. However, U.S. officials said the delegation will still be required to leave the country immediately after the match concludes.
A spokesperson for the Iran Football Federation confirmed the team’s revised travel schedule, saying preparations had already been made for Wednesday’s departure to Seattle.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said the decision followed a review of the team’s earlier travel arrangements during the tournament.
According to Giuliani, officials had planned to evaluate the first two cross-border movements involving Iran’s squad before deciding whether additional flexibility could be granted. After those trips were completed without major issues, the government approved an extra day in Seattle, particularly because of the significantly longer journey from Tijuana compared with previous trips.
The adjustment comes at a time when diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran continue alongside broader discussions aimed at ending the conflict involving Iran. Although the policy change is tied to World Cup logistics, it arrives against the backdrop of sensitive political negotiations between the two countries.
Since the tournament began, Iran’s national team has repeatedly voiced frustration over the travel limitations placed on its delegation.
Originally, Iranian football officials sought permission to play all of the team’s group-stage matches in Mexico, citing the country’s diplomatic relationship with Tehran and hoping to avoid repeated cross-border travel into the United States. That request was not approved, although FIFA and tournament organizers did allow Iran to relocate its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, just across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Even with the move to Mexico, Iran has faced significant logistical difficulties throughout the competition.
Several team officials and members of the support staff were reportedly denied permission to enter the United States alongside the players, limiting the size of the delegation available during matches and training sessions.
For Iran’s opening two World Cup matches in Los Angeles, the squad was only permitted to enter the United States one day before kickoff. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei repeatedly argued that the compressed travel schedule placed his players at a competitive disadvantage.
Following Iran’s scoreless draw against Belgium on Sunday, Ghalenoei emphasized that physical recovery had become the team’s biggest challenge.
“Right now we need recovery more than anything,” he said through a translator after the match. “The conditions have been extremely hard for us.”
Although arriving one day before a match is consistent with FIFA tournament regulations, Iran had argued that its unique circumstances justified additional flexibility.
FIFA guidelines generally require participating teams to travel from their base camp to the match venue one day before kickoff and return immediately after the game, while allowing earlier arrivals only in exceptional situations.
Iran requested additional preparation time, particularly ahead of the nearly 1,200-mile (1,930-kilometer) journey from Tijuana to Seattle, saying the extra day would allow players to recover from travel fatigue, adjust to local conditions and complete training without unnecessary time pressure.
The squad has already scheduled a full training session at the University of Washington on Thursday as part of its preparations for Friday’s match.
Veteran winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh said the team has never sought special treatment but simply wants the same operational conditions enjoyed by other nations participating in the tournament.
“We don’t ask for much,” Jahanbakhsh said after Sunday’s match. “We just ask for the same procedure as for all the other 47 teams. Hopefully we can bring everyone who is involved and help us with us.”
Players have also described significant delays while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border during previous trips.
Team captain Mehdi Taremi said the normally brief 127-mile (204-kilometer) journey between Tijuana and Los Angeles took approximately five hours before Iran’s opening match against New Zealand because of immigration and security procedures.
The team’s travel arrangements became even more politically sensitive after comments made by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin shortly before Sunday’s match against Belgium.
Speaking during a television interview, Mullin claimed Iranian officials had attempted to bring into the United States an individual with direct ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
The Iran Football Federation strongly rejected the allegation, describing it as completely false and issuing a statement calling the accusation “an outright and undeniable lie.”
The revised travel policy currently applies only to Iran’s delegation.
It remains unclear whether Egypt, Iran’s next opponent, will receive similar accommodations.
After defeating New Zealand 3-1 in Vancouver on Sunday, Egypt requested permission to travel directly from Canada to Seattle instead of returning to its base camp in Spokane, Washington.
Tournament organizers denied that request, citing insufficient security resources to accommodate the late scheduling change. Egypt subsequently returned to Spokane, located approximately a 45-minute flight from Seattle, where it continues preparations for Friday’s match.
With the travel adjustment now approved, Iran will enter one of its most important matches of the tournament with additional preparation time, offering the players a better opportunity to recover physically and focus on football after navigating weeks of travel complications and heightened political scrutiny during the World Cup.
Original article
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