Iran's football federation has announced that it will lodge an official complaint with FIFA over travel restrictions imposed on the national team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. The federation argues that the measures are disrupting the team's preparation and creating unequal conditions compared to other participating nations.
According to Iranian officials, the team is only permitted to enter the United States within 24 hours of a match and must leave on the same day after the game. As a result, Iran has been forced to operate from a base in Mexico and travel in and out of the U.S. for its Group G fixtures. The federation claims its request to arrive two days before matches for training and recovery purposes was denied.
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei described his side as the “most oppressed” team at the tournament, saying the restrictions have hampered preparations. Team captain Mehdi Taremi has also voiced concerns about the impact on player recovery and match readiness.
The controversy follows Iran's opening 2-2 draw against New Zealand, after which the squad reportedly had to leave Los Angeles immediately and return to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, instead of remaining in the host city for recovery sessions.
In its statement, the Football Federation of Iran said the restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of equal treatment for all teams and may negatively affect sporting performance. The federation plans to formally raise the issue through FIFA's official channels while continuing preparations for upcoming matches against Belgium and Egypt.
FIFA has not yet issued an official response to the complaint. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities have defended the policy as a security-related measure that was communicated in advance.
