Iran has lodged a formal protest with FIFA, claiming that stringent U.S. travel restrictions during the 2026 World Cup are adversely affecting the team’s preparation and recovery. The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) argues that the regulations undermine fair competition, while U.S. officials maintain that all conditions were agreed upon beforehand.

Under the current setup, the Iranian national team is only permitted to enter the United States one day before each fixture and must depart immediately after the match concludes. Following a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles, head coach Amir Ghalenoei described Iran as the tournament’s “most oppressed” team due to these limitations.

In its statement, the FFIRI asserted that the policy violates the principle of equal treatment among participating nations and could seriously hinder the squad’s performance. The federation explained, “These measures are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect their preparation processes.”

The statement continued, “Accordingly, the federation will officially express its dissatisfaction and submit a formal complaint to FIFA through the appropriate channels. The Iranian national football team needed to arrive in each host city two days before every match and return to its base camp the day after the game to ensure optimal technical and physical readiness.”

The FFIRI further disclosed that its requests to arrive 48 hours before matches were rejected twice, including before the game against Belgium in Los Angeles. The federation argued that additional time was essential for players to adjust to local conditions, conduct training sessions, and finalise match preparations.

Meanwhile, the team is currently based in Tijuana, Mexico, after the United States refused permission for longer stays on American soil. The restrictions reportedly stem from broader security and political concerns. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security told BBC, “The Iranian national football team agreed to these terms.”

White House FIFA Task Force executive director Andrew Giuliani reaffirmed the policy in a statement to CBS News, saying, “The team will be allowed to come in one day before the match and will be required to leave the evening the match ends. They will be able to follow the same procedure in Los Angeles.”

The issue has reached FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who visited Iran’s dressing room after the draw with New Zealand amid mounting pressure on the governing body to address the federation’s grievances. Iran still faces two key group-stage fixtures in the United States — against Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle. The FFIRI insists that the existing travel restrictions place the team at a competitive disadvantage. FIFA will now have to decide whether any adjustments can be made while adhering to tournament rules and respecting U.S. regulations. The situation is expected to remain under close observation as Iran’s World Cup journey continues.