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Iran to file FIFA complaint over ‘restrictions imposed’ on team at World Cup

me.sumitji@gmail.com 20 Jun 2026 1 hour ago

New Delhi: Iran’s football federation is preparing to submit a formal complaint to over travel restrictions affecting the national team during the World Cup in North America. The issue centres on regulations imposed by U.S. authorities which require the Iranian squad to enter the country within 24 hours of a match and leave on the same day.

As a result, Iran have been forced to operate from their tournament base in Mexico and travel in and out of the United States for group-stage fixtures. The federation believes the arrangement has created difficulties for the team and has affected its ability to prepare properly for matches.

Federation raises concerns

In a statement released on Friday, the Football Federation of Iran said it intends to raise the matter with FIFA, arguing that the restrictions do not provide equal conditions for all participating nations. “The Football Federation of Iran believes these restrictions are inconsistent with the principles of providing equal conditions for participating teams and may affect their technical preparation,” the federation said. Neither nor the U.S. Department of Homeland Security immediately commented on the matter following requests from Reuters. Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has also voiced frustration over the situation, describing his side as the “most oppressed” team at the tournament because of the travel limitations.

Impact on tournament preparation

According to the federation, the coaching staff had planned for the squad to arrive in host cities two days before each match and return to their base the day after the games. The approach was designed to help players adjust and maintain peak physical and technical condition. However, the request was reportedly not approved for Iran’s opening fixture against New Zealand. Ghalenoei later suggested that the disruption had played a role in his team’s 2-2 draw on Monday. Iran still have two important Group G matches remaining. They are scheduled to face Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 27.

With qualification still on the line, the federation hopes its concerns will be addressed by FIFA as the tournament continues. The governing body is yet to publicly respond to Iran’s planned complaint.

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