Iran’s football federation says it will file a formal complaint with FIFA over travel restrictions affecting the national team during the 2026 World Cup in North America. The federation says the team is based in Tijuana, Mexico, and must travel to play matches in the United States under rules that limit when it can enter the country and how long it can remain. Iran reports that its requests for earlier arrival in the United States have been denied, including a request to fly from its Mexican base to the United States two days before a match against Belgium in Los Angeles. Instead, Iran says it has been required to travel on a tighter schedule—at points, travelling to Los Angeles one day before matches and departing immediately after—disrupting technical staff plans and affecting player recovery. Multiple outlets report that the federation and people associated with the team, including players, coaches, and supporters, have raised concerns about repeated hurdles throughout the tournament. FIFA is expected to receive the complaint as Iran seeks changes or review of the World Cup travel arrangements that it says disadvantage the team.
Iran football federation to lodge complaint with FIFA over World Cup US travel restrictions
Iran’s football federation says it will file a formal complaint with FIFA over travel restrictions affecting the national team during the 2026 World Cup in North America. The federation says the team...
- The Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) says it will submit a formal complaint to FIFA over World Cup travel restrictions.
- Iran’s team is based in Mexico (Tijuana) and travels to U.S. venues for matches.
- FFIRI says requests to enter the United States earlier than scheduled are denied, including a two-day pre-match request before the Belgium game.
- Iran says the tight travel schedule—at times arriving one day before and leaving immediately after—disrupts preparations and recovery.
- Iran’s group-stage match against Belgium in Los Angeles is described as a key fixture amid the dispute.
The Iranian Football Federation announced on Friday its intention to submit a formal complaint to FIFA, protesting the restrictions imposed on the movement of Iran’s national team within the United States during its participation in the 2026 World Cup. The Iran will play its matches in the tournament while based in Mexico, one of the […] By Alaa Shamali
10 hours agoThe Iran team is traveling between its base camp in Mexico to games in the United States.
12 hours agoSpokesman says request to fly into US two days before next match was turned down.
13 hours agoIran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to America two days before their next match against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday but the request was turned down.
14 hours agoIran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to America two days before their next match against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday but the request was turned down.
14 hours agoThe Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) has expressed disappointment over the travel restrictions imposed on the team by co-hosts USA during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026
15 hours ago
Brooklyn Beckham releases World Cup-themed DoorDash advert amid reported family feud
Brooklyn Beckham releases a World Cup-themed DoorDash advertisement in which he references watching FIFA World Cup 2026...
Israel–Hezbollah ceasefire conditional deal faces setbacks as Hezbollah rejects terms
Israel and Hezbollah reach and implement a conditional ceasefire in Lebanon, brokered through U.S. talks, but the arrang...
TRT removes World Cup commentator after mixing up Iran and New Zealand on air
Turkish state broadcaster TRT removes veteran commentator Murat Ekrem Çimen from its remaining World Cup coverage after...