Iran World Cup travel restrictions FIFA complaint has been further tightened due to the Football Federation of Iran’s decision to formally report to FIFA regarding visa-related travel restrictions for the Iran Football Team in the United States, Canada and Mexico during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Iran national football team has protested against the measures reportedly limiting entry into the United States to one day prior to a match and also forcing them to leave the country on the same day they play. Officials say this means that there are structural disadvantages in how tournaments are being prepared and how they are being recovered.
The restrictions are “inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams,” says the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) while also having the potential of affecting the balance of the tournament. The federation has said it will formally lodge a complaint against FIFA.
The situation came to the fore after Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei said his squad is the “most oppressed” in the tournament after their Los Angeles draw with New Zealand. His statements were coming to an increasing expression of dissatisfaction in the camp on the logistical and administrative constraints on travelling within the host countries.
Iran said the existing system has the potential to have a negative impact on training and tactical preparation, as well as on player recovery, especially with the current world cup format expanded across the borders.
There is no official response from FIFA concerning the complaint so far. But it puts extra pressure on the organisers of the tournament as questions are raised about the uniformity of operations for all countries taking part.
