US eases World Cup travel rules for Iran, granting extra day before decisive Egypt match
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it will allow Iran's football team to enter the country two days before their World Cup group-stage match against Egypt in Seattle, easing a policy that previously restricted the squad to 24-hour pre-match windows.
The policy shift
For its first two World Cup matches in Los Angeles, Iran's national team was permitted to enter the United States only 24 hours before kick-off, and players and staff were required to leave the country on the same day as each game. That arrangement itself represented a softening of an initial stance that would have forced the team to travel on match day, according to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA task force.
On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a further relaxation. "For the Iranian team's third match in Seattle on 26 June, the team has been permitted to come into the US two days before the match. The Iran team will still be required to leave the day the match ends," a DHS spokesperson said.
The overall security measures and protocol are the same. We remain committed to providing the safest tournament possible for players, staff and fans alike.
Iran's complaints
Iran's federation had planned to lodge an official complaint with FIFA over what it described as unfair treatment. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei had earlier called his side the "most oppressed" team at the tournament, saying the squad had been "robbed" of preparation time and received "less than half" the training window it needed.
This kind of behaviour is not suitable for the World Cup.
Captain Mehdi Taremi described the logistical conditions as a "disaster". The team is based in Tijuana, Mexico, and must return there immediately after each match. For the Seattle fixture, the journey is longer than the flight into Los Angeles, which Giuliani cited as a reason for adjusting the policy.
Match context
Iran have drawn both of their opening Group G matches, against New Zealand and another opponent, and will secure a place in the knockout stage if they beat Egypt on Friday. The game kicks off on 26 June in Seattle (04:00 BST on 27 June). Should Iran finish second in the group, its next match would be in Dallas.
Backdrop of tensions
The World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States at a time when Washington and Tehran are engaged in talks to end a military conflict that began in February. A DHS spokesperson referenced the president's priorities, saying, "the President wants to make sure that we're talking about what actually happens on the pitch. A lot of that is making sure that things are safe and secure, not just around the stadiums, but around base camps and training sites."
