Iran to complain to Fifa over World Cup travel restrictions

Iran is moving to formally complain to FIFA over travel restrictions that have shadowed its 2026 World Cup campaign, arguing the rules do not provide equal conditions for all teams and could damage preparation. The dispute has become a test of how much authority football’s governing body can exert when a host country’s immigration policy runs in the opposite direction.

Iran can enter the United States only the day before each match and must leave on the same day the game ends under its visa conditions. That has turned even routine World Cup logistics into a political and security issue, with Iran’s federation saying the limitations are unfair and may affect the squad’s ability to prepare properly. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei sharpened the tone after Iran’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles, calling his side the “most oppressed” team at the tournament.

The problems have stretched well beyond the first whistle. Iran moved its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, after several staff members were denied U.S. visas, and Iranian officials say as many as 15 team officials were refused entry documents. The federation also said its allocation of supporter tickets was revoked on the eve of the tournament, a blow that affects families and fans trying to follow a team making its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance.

FIFA has already tried to manage the tension through direct contact with Iranian officials. On 16 May 2026, a FIFA delegation led by secretary general Mattias Grafström met Football Federation of Iran officials in Istanbul to discuss Iran’s participation. FIFA then held another positive online discussion with the federation on 8 June, after Iran had arrived at its Mexico base camp. The meetings showed FIFA can offer assurances and logistics help, but they also underscored a limit: it cannot rewrite the entry rules of the host country.

Those rules are anchored in U.S. policy. The United States says Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on 1 January 2026, suspends or limits entry and visa issuance to nationals of 39 countries, including Iran. The White House FIFA Task Force has said Iran was told in advance it would be allowed into the United States one day before matches and would have to leave the day the match ended. Iran had sought to fly from Tijuana to the United States two days before its next game against Belgium, but that request was rejected.

Iran’s next Group G matches are against Belgium in Los Angeles on 21 June 2026, with kickoff set for 12:00 pm local time, and Egypt in Seattle on 26 June 2026. For a team already navigating war-related security concerns and geopolitical strain, the schedule now means every trip across the border is part sporting mission, part diplomatic ordeal.