The Iranian Football Federation plans to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA over travel restrictions set by the United States for the 2026 World Cup, saying they are affecting the team’s preparation and creating an uneven playing field.
At the centre of the issue are rules that limit the squad’s stay in the US to just 24 hours before each match, with players required to leave immediately after games.
Reports indicate that Iranian football officials asked to arrive earlier ahead of their Group G match against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday, but that request was not approved, leaving the team with a narrow preparation window.
The restriction, the federation says, leaves little room for training, recovery, and match preparation between fixtures and raises concerns about fairness compared with other teams at the tournament.
“The Football Federation of Iran believes that such restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams' preparation processes,” the federation said.
"Consequently, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with FIFA through the appropriate channels."
Beyond the match-day travel rules, Iran’s World Cup build-up has been complicated by broader logistical issues involving visas, delegation movement and access for media and supporters.
Those challenges have already forced changes to its tournament base, with the team relocating from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico after visa complications affected members of its travelling party.
Frustrations have also grown during the tournament itself. After Iran’s 2–2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 16, the Iran squad was required to leave the US immediately and return to its base in Mexico, rather than remain for recovery.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei has since described Iran as the “most oppressed” team in the competition, while captain Mehdi Taremi called the situation a “disaster,” citing the cumulative impact of repeated travel disruption.
Following their match against Belgium, Iran will complete its group stage campaign against Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle on Saturday, June 27.
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