Iran announced on June 18 that it will lodge a formal complaint with FIFA regarding travel restrictions imposed by tournament organizers during the 2026 World Cup held in North America [1, 2]. The Iran Football Federation said the restrictions affect the team’s ability to implement its technical staff’s plans, despite submitting its preparation schedule well in advance [2].
Iran requested to travel from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to Los Angeles two days before their June 21 match against Belgium. The federation argued this was necessary given the match’s 12 p.m. local kickoff, which is 3 a.m. Singapore time, to allow adequate preparation time [1, 2]. However, the request was denied, and Iran was only allowed to arrive in Los Angeles 24 hours before the game [3]. The federation described the refusal as inconsistent with providing equal conditions for all teams [3].
Iran was also obliged to fly back to Tijuana immediately after their match against New Zealand without the usual additional day for recovery, which further limited their preparation and rest time [3].
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi called the logistical issues a "disaster" for the team in recent weeks [3]. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei stated Iran is the "most oppressed" team at the tournament due to these restrictions [3].
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) said it will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint through the appropriate channels [3]. Today, June 19, Iran released an official statement confirming the complaint’s submission [3].
Iran’s next match against Belgium is scheduled for June 21 at 12 p.m. local time in Los Angeles, affected directly by the imposed travel restrictions [1, 2, 3].
