U.S. eases travel limits for Iran ahead of World Cup match

The U.S. has loosened travel limits for Iran’s national soccer team, allowing players to reach Seattle two days before their next World Cup match, but only on the condition that they leave immediately after the game. The change keeps Iran under tighter control than the other 47 teams in the tournament and underscores how security planning, diplomacy and sport have collided around one of the event’s most politically sensitive squads.

The Department of Homeland Security said the adjustment is meant to keep stadiums, base camps and training sites safe and secure. Until now, Iran had been limited to entering the U.S. within 24 hours of its first two matches and had to depart the same day, an arrangement that forced the squad to return to its base in Tijuana, Mexico, after both games. By contrast, other teams have been able to arrive earlier and stay afterward for recovery if they choose.

Iran’s federation has said it plans to file an official complaint with FIFA, arguing that the restrictions violate equal conditions for participating teams and could damage technical preparation. Coach Amir Ghalenoei called Iran the “most oppressed” team in the tournament, while striker Mehdi Taremi said the earlier arrangement was “a disaster for us.” Andrew Giuliani, the White House FIFA Task Force director, has said the terms could be renegotiated and that fair play should be preserved.

The team’s logistical path has already been disrupted. Iran was originally supposed to train in Tucson, Arizona, but its base camp was moved abruptly to Tijuana in late May after visa and travel problems. Since then, the squad has been commuting from Mexico for its U.S. matches, a setup that has made ordinary tournament preparation far more complicated than it has been for most of the field.

The broader backdrop has made the situation even more fraught. Iran’s World Cup participation has been complicated by the war involving Iran and the United States, and President Donald Trump had previously said he did not think Iran’s participation was “appropriate.” Iran is scheduled to face Egypt in Seattle on June 27, and a victory could keep it in contention to advance. The new travel window eases one pressure point, but it leaves in place the message that Iran’s presence remains subject to security and diplomatic calculations well beyond the touchline.