World Cup 2026: Iran to file FIFA complaint over US entry restrictions | OneFootball

Iran will lodge a formal complaint with FIFA over United States entry rules that they say allow them to arrive only a day before fixtures, disrupting preparation for Sunday’s Belgium match in Los Angeles.

According to Le Progres, the federation says the limits breach equal-conditions principles and will file through FIFA’s channels, while White House World Cup taskforce lead Andrew Giuliani has maintained Iran would only be admitted on the eve of games and asked to leave that night, including before Egypt on 26 June in Seattle.

Team Melli have already seen visas refused for several staff and relocated their base at the last minute to Tijuana, Mexico, after dropping Arizona. The staff had planned to arrive in each host city two days before and return the day after to optimise preparation.

For the New Zealand opener, a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles on Monday, Iran arrived only the day before and departed immediately after full time. The same pattern applies before Belgium, after a request to fly in on Friday for a noon local kick-off on Sunday was rejected.

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said his side had been treated worse than any other at the tournament. Forward Mehdi Taremi said players learned on match day they had to leave the US that night and called the situation a logistical disaster.

Without a visa for the press officer, a video analyst has been handling media duties during US trips. Taremi also said FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited the dressing room and wanted to help, while other issues continued to hinder them.

All three of Iran’s Group G games are on US soil at a World Cup hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada. It is the first edition in which a host nation is at war with a participating country.

Source: Le Progres