The United States has confirmed it will not ease travel restrictions on the Iran national football team ahead of their World Cup match against Belgium in Los Angeles, despite growing complaints from the squad and a planned appeal to FIFA.
The decision was confirmed by Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force overseeing tournament operations. He said the current travel plan for the team will remain in place while officials continue to review arrangements.
The Iran national team, competing in the FIFA World Cup organized by FIFA World Cup, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the restrictions. The rules limit their movement within the United States and require tight scheduling around matchdays.
Under the current system, the Iranian squad is only allowed to travel to host cities within 24 hours of their matches. After each game, the team must immediately return to their training base in Tijuana, Mexico. Officials say this arrangement is part of security and logistical planning for the tournament.
Team coach Amir Ghalenoei has criticized the situation, saying his players are facing unusual conditions compared to other teams. He described Iran as feeling like “the most oppressed team in the tournament” due to the strict travel rules and limited recovery time.
After their opening match against New Zealand in California, the team left the United States shortly after the final whistle. The match ended late in the evening local time, and the squad returned to Mexico within a few hours, without staying overnight in Los Angeles.
Players and staff have raised concerns that the schedule does not allow enough recovery time. They say missing a full rest period after matches could affect performance and increase physical strain during the tournament.
One additional issue involved winger Mehdi Torabi, whose entry visa expired after the first match. The problem was later resolved after officials issued him a new multiple-entry visa, allowing him to continue traveling for future matches.
Despite these concerns, US officials say all participating teams have received necessary visas, although some individual team officials are still undergoing additional checks. Authorities have not provided details on those cases, citing security considerations.
Giuliani defended the travel arrangements, saying the change of training base from Tucson to Tijuana had already reduced travel times for the Iranian team. He added that the current system was designed to balance security requirements with tournament logistics.
Officials also confirmed that Iran will follow the same travel schedule for their upcoming match against Belgium. The team is expected to arrive in Los Angeles roughly 24 hours before kickoff and return to Mexico shortly after the game.
Giuliani said the situation remains flexible and could be reviewed again after the Belgium match. He noted that discussions are already planned regarding arrangements for Iran’s final group match in Seattle against Egypt.
He also stated that security assessments are ongoing throughout the tournament, with intelligence teams monitoring potential risks. However, he said no credible threats to the event have been identified so far.
US organizers emphasized that the goal is to ensure both safety and smooth tournament operations while accommodating international teams. They said the World Cup is proceeding as planned, with strong attendance and positive fan engagement across host cities.
The travel restrictions remain a point of tension, with Iran expected to continue raising concerns through official channels, including FIFA, as the tournament progresses.
