Iran's football team is allowed to fly into the United States only one day before each of their World Cup matches — and must leave the same evening. That tight schedule, imposed by US authorities, has led Iran to lodge a formal complaint with Fifa, arguing it undermines fair preparation.
Iran are co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, but political tensions between Tehran and Washington have cast a shadow over their participation. Under the conditions of their visas, Iran can enter the US only 24 hours before a game and must depart immediately afterwards. This meant that after their opening 2-2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles, the team had to fly straight back to their base in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than stay for a recovery session. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei called them the "most oppressed" team at the tournament, while captain Mehdi Taremi described the logistical situation as a "disaster".
“Iran faces US visa restrictions allowing entry only one day before World Cup matches, prompting a formal complaint to Fifa.”
These restrictions are not new. Before the tournament, several "integral" members of Iran's backroom staff were denied entry visas to the US. The team also switched their base from Arizona to Tijuana amid the conflict in the Middle East. The Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) says that its pre-tournament preparation schedule was submitted well in advance, but requests to arrive two days before matches — specifically for their second group game against Belgium, which kicks off at midday local time in Los Angeles — have been rejected. In a statement, the FFIRI said the restrictions are "inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams' preparation processes." Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, confirmed the policy: "The team will be allowed to come in match day minus one... they'll be asked to leave the day the match wraps up."
For UK readers, this dispute highlights how international sporting events can become entangled in geopolitics. It raises questions about fairness — do all teams have equal conditions to prepare? — and about the role of governing bodies like Fifa, whose president Gianni Infantino visited Iran's dressing room after the New Zealand match but has yet to resolve the issue. The outcome could set a precedent for how host nations manage visas for politically sensitive participants in future tournaments.
Q: Why is Iran only allowed to enter the US one day before matches? The US government imposes these visa restrictions due to political tensions between the two countries. Iran must arrive the day before a game and leave the same evening, which prevents them from preparing properly in the host city.
Q: What has Iran's football federation said about the restrictions? The FFIRI has issued a statement calling the restrictions unfair and said it will lodge a formal complaint with Fifa. It noted that requests to arrive two days before matches — especially for a midday kick-off in Los Angeles — were denied despite technical reasons.
Q: What happens next for Iran at the World Cup? Iran still have two group games in the US: against Belgium on 21 June in Los Angeles and against Egypt on 27 June in Seattle. They will continue to face the same travel restrictions unless Fifa intervenes or the US changes its policy.