Iran’s football federation is preparing a formal complaint to FIFA over what it describes as restrictive conditions imposed on its national team during the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
An official from the Iranian delegation said the measures had prevented the squad from preparing calmly for its next Group Stage match against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday. The federation argues that Iran should have been allowed to arrive two days before the match, rather than only one day in advance.
The dispute follows earlier anger within the Iranian camp after some members of the team’s coaching staff were reportedly denied US visas for the tournament.
The Iranian official said the restrictions were “contrary to the principle of equal conditions” for all teams taking part in the competition and risked damaging the squad’s preparation.
According to the same official, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and submit a complaint to FIFA through the appropriate channels.
Iran have already played once in Los Angeles, drawing 2-2 with New Zealand in their opening match on Monday. After that game, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team was facing “the worst treatment” at the World Cup.
The Iranian delegation says its technical staff had designed a schedule under which the team would arrive in each host city two days before a match and return to its base camp the day after, in order to protect its physical and technical preparation. Instead, it says the squad arrived in Los Angeles only the day before facing New Zealand and was required to leave immediately after the final whistle.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi, who plays for Olympiacos, said the players were informed on the day of the match that they had to leave the United States.
Those claims were rejected by Andrew Giuliani, director of the White House task force for the World Cup, who said the arrangements had been clear from the beginning.
Giuliani said Iran would be allowed to enter the country the day before each match and would be required to leave after the game, including for fixtures in Los Angeles and Seattle. Iran are due to play their final group match against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
The Iranian official said the same situation was now being repeated before the Belgium match. Iran had requested permission to arrive in Los Angeles on Friday, allowing the players more time to adjust before Sunday’s midday kick-off, but the request was again rejected, according to the delegation.
Source: CNA
