Iran rested: US relaxes World Cup travel rules ahead of clash with Egypt
Iran’s World Cup campaign received a small but significant boost on Tuesday after the United States eased travel restrictions on the team during the tournament. The move will allow Melli’s team to arrive at the venue for their next match a day earlier than before, offering some relief after weeks of complaints about their travel arrangements.
The decision comes just days before Iran’s crucial Group G clash against Egypt in Seattle, a match that could decide whether they reach the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
until now Iran was only allowed to enter the United States one day before each game. Operating from a base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, the team was forced to travel across the border shortly before games and return immediately after the final whistle.
The arrangement drew criticism from Iran’s officials and coaching staff, with head coach Amir Ghalenoei recently calling Iran “the most downtrodden team in the entire World Cup”.
On Tuesday, the US Department of Homeland Security confirmed a slight relaxation of those rules.
“For the Iranian team’s third game in Seattle on June 26, the team was allowed to come to the U.S. two days before the game,” a DHS spokesman said.
The change means Iran will be able to travel to Seattle on the Wednesday before Friday’s game against Egypt, instead of making the trip just 24 hours before kick-off.
WHAT IS CHANGING FOR IRAN?
Although the updated policy offers more time to prepare, several restrictions still apply.
The Iranian team will still have to leave the United States immediately after the match and return to their tournament base in Tijuana. Broader security protocols remain unchanged, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
“The Iranian team will still be required to leave the match on the day the match ends. The overall security measures and protocol remain the same. We remain committed to making the tournament as safe as possible for players, staff and fans,” the DHS spokesperson added.
The restrictions were imposed at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following months of geopolitical conflict between the two nations.
In March, US President Donald Trump said Iran was welcome to participate in the tournament, but suggested it would be inappropriate for the team to stay in the United States between games due to security concerns.
Iran has previously said it intends to file a formal complaint with FIFA over the travel requirements.
CAN IRAN REACH THE KNOCKING PHASE?
Despite the off-field challenges, Iran have quietly put together an impressive campaign.
Team Melli have drawn both of their Group G games so far, including a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Belgium and an entertaining 2-2 draw against New Zealand. These performances left them on two points to reach the final round of group matches.
The equation is fairly straightforward.
A win over Egypt would almost certainly secure Iran a place in the knockout rounds and potentially give them their first-ever berth beyond the World Cup group stage. Depending on results elsewhere, even a draw could leave the door open.
Football World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | football news
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
Jun 24, 2026 02:16 IST