World Cup: Iran flight delayed and Taremi questioned before entering US | OneFootball

Iran’s trip to Seattle, in the United States, where the national team will face Egypt in the early hours of Saturday (4:00 a.m.) in the third round of the 2026 World Cup group stage, was delayed due to a complicated departure involving Mehdi Taremi, former FC Porto and Rio Ave striker, and assistant Said Alhoei.

According to journalist Nima Tavallaey Roodsari, Taremi and Alhoei were questioned for around 25 to 40 minutes, at a point when their boarding passes had still not been issued, before they were finally allowed onto the plane, where the rest of the Iranian delegation was already waiting and refused to take off without them.

The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran has already reacted to the incident, accusingly pointing to a “delay caused by new harassment of Iran’s national team by the USA at the airport.”

It should be noted that Iran drew with New Zealand (2-2) and Belgium (0-0) in the first two matchdays of the World Cup, sitting second in Group G with the same two points as the Belgians. Egypt leads with four, while New Zealand is behind with one.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.