Iran lodges FIFA complaint over World Cup travel restrictions

The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) is preparing to submit a formal complaint to FIFA, alleging that travel restrictions imposed during the FIFA World Cup 2026 have placed the national team at a significant disadvantage compared to other participating nations. Iranian officials believe the measures have disrupted the team's preparations and recovery plans throughout the tournament, raising concerns over competitive fairness. In a statement released on Friday, the federation said: “The football federation of Iran believes that such restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams’ preparation processes. “Consequently, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with Fifa through the appropriate channels. Despite these limitations, Iran’s national team will continue its preparation programme and remain fully focused on its upcoming match against Belgium,” the statement added. The issue follows a similar situation surrounding Iran's opening World Cup match against New Zealand, after which the squad was required to leave the United States shortly after the final whistle and return to its training base in Mexico. Iran has been operating from Tijuana throughout the tournament after being unable to establish its original base camp in Arizona. The federation also claims that several support staff members were denied visas, creating additional logistical challenges behind the scenes.

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed frustration over the situation after his side's 2-2 draw with New Zealand. The veteran manager said the team had been informed immediately after the match that they would have to leave the United States and return to Mexico without delay. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ghalenoei said his team had been suddenly informed that it had to return to Mexico immediately after the match in Los Angeles. "After the game they said to us, 'You have to leave immediately. We've been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that," Ghalenoei told reporters in the post-match press conference. "They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult, more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best," he added. The issue comes ahead of a crucial clash against Belgium, with Iran aiming to strengthen its chances of reaching the knockout stages. The players continue training in Mexico as they prepare for one of their biggest matches of the tournament.