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Iran team to enter US two days before matches in FIFA World Cup 2026, ahead of critical Egypt game

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Iran's national football team will now enter US game sites two days before matches in the FIFA World Cup 2026, a slight easing of travel restrictions.
  • The team previously had to travel within 24 hours of games and must still return to Mexico immediately after each match.
  • Iran's manager expressed frustration, calling the team "the most oppressed," while protests against the team's presence in the US continue.

The Iranian national football team's travel restrictions for the FIFA World Cup 2026 have been marginally eased, allowing them to reach US game sites two days before matches. This change, announced by the US Department of Homeland Security, offers a slight improvement from the previous requirement of arriving within 24 hours of their first two games.

Iran are "the most oppressed team in the whole World Cup."

— Amir GhalenoeiManager of the Iranian national team, expressing frustration over travel restrictions.

Despite this adjustment, the team must still return to their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, immediately after each match concludes. Iran's manager, Amir Ghalenoei, voiced strong dissatisfaction with the conditions, stating Iran is "the most oppressed team in the whole World Cup," and the team had lodged a complaint with FIFA.

Iran, currently with two draws in two matches, has a chance to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in their history. Their next match is against Egypt, with potential knockout-stage opponents including Australia.

Bringing them here and having them play basically presents a calm face to the world, when in fact back home there is no calmness, there's only execution and suffering that the regime has brought.

— Ryan SalamiAn Iranian-American protester explaining their view on the Iranian team's presence in the US.

Meanwhile, the team's participation in the tournament has sparked protests from Iranian-Americans. They argue that the Iranian government is using the World Cup for sportswashing, highlighting the regime's record of suppressing dissidents. Protesters view the team's presence as presenting a false image of normalcy while human rights abuses continue in Iran.

They are all attached to the regime in some way.

— Peymaneh ShafiA protester commenting on the Iranian players' connection to the government.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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