Iran Files Complaint to Fifa Over World Cup Travel Restrictions
Iran’s World Cup campaign is being fought on two fronts: on the pitch, and at the border.
The national federation has confirmed it will lodge an official complaint to Fifa over strict US visa conditions that are forcing the team to fly in and out of the country on match days during the 2026 World Cup.
Under the current rules, Iran are only allowed to enter the United States — one of the tournament’s three co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico — the day before a game and must leave on the same day the match is played.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei did not hide his anger after a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles, describing Iran as the “most oppressed” team at the tournament.
“Inconsistent with equal conditions”
In a strongly worded statement, the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) said the restrictions are “inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams' preparation processes”.
The statement continued: “Consequently, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with Fifa through the appropriate channels.”
For Iran, this is not a marginal gripe about logistics. It cuts into how they train, rest and recover.
The team had asked to arrive in each US host city two days before every match and return to their base camp the day after, arguing that this schedule was essential “to achieve optimal technical and physical preparation”. That request was rejected for their opener against New Zealand — and, they say, has now been turned down again before their second group game against Belgium.
“The same situation has now been repeated ahead of Iran's second match against Belgium,” the FFIRI said.
With that game kicking off at 12:00 local time in Los Angeles on 21 June (20:00 BST), Iran wanted extra time to acclimatise, complete a final training session in the city and finalise tactical work. The answer, again, was no.
War, visas and a shifting base
Iran’s very presence at this World Cup has been shadowed by the war in the Middle East and associated security concerns. Their base camp, initially planned for Arizona, was switched to Tijuana in Mexico as regional tensions deepened.
The complications have not stopped at geography. Multiple “integral” members of Iran’s backroom staff were denied US entry visas, stripping Ghalenoei’s team of key support figures just as the tournament began.
On top of that, the FFIRI say their ticket allocation for matches in the United States was revoked on the eve of the competition. The federation publicly urged Fifa to “uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations” as frustration mounted.
The sense of strain was underlined when Fifa president Gianni Infantino visited the Iran dressing room after the draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles, a rare intervention that underlined just how politically charged Iran’s participation has become.
US officials: “They agreed to these terms”
From the American side, the message is blunt: Iran knew the rules.
“The Iranian national football team agreed to these terms,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the BBC when asked about Ghalenoei’s comments.
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Fifa Task Force, laid out the framework in an interview with CBS News.
“The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match,” he said. “They'll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And they'll be able to do that again in Los Angeles.”
The restrictions remain in place despite an initial peace deal signed by the presidents of the US and Iran, aimed at ending the war in the region. Football, as ever, is being forced to operate inside a much larger diplomatic story.
Two games, one country, no margin
Iran still have two group fixtures to navigate, both on US soil.
After Belgium in Los Angeles on 21 June, they travel again across the border and back for a meeting with Egypt in Seattle on 27 June (04:00 BST). Each game will be preceded and followed by the same compressed travel pattern: into the US the day before, out again the day of the match.
For a squad chasing knockout qualification, that is a punishing rhythm. There is no extended stay, no chance to settle, no room for the usual World Cup routine of training blocks and gradual adjustment. Just airports, security checks, and 90 minutes to justify the upheaval.
Iran insist this is not just inconvenient but unfair. The complaint to Fifa is their attempt to force that argument onto the sport’s biggest stage. Whether world football’s governing body can, or will, challenge the host nation’s security stance is another matter entirely.
What is clear is that as Iran chase points against Belgium and Egypt, they will also be fighting time zones, border controls and a schedule no other contender has to endure.
