Read 4 minutesUpdated: June 19, 2026 06:29 PM IST
Iran made a confident start to the FIFA World Cup earlier this week with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their Group G encounter in Los Angeles, while Mehdi Taremi’s side had to leave Los Angeles within three hours of the match to travel to their training base in Mexico. With the USA government imposing travel restrictions on the Iranian team, it means the Asian nation’s team will have to return to Mexico after their matches at the World Cup. As Iran faces Belgium in its next group match in Los Angeles on Sunday, the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation said it will file an official complaint with soccer’s world governing body FIFA ahead of Sunday’s match against Belgium.
“The Football Federation of Iran believes that such restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may have a negative impact on the preparation process of the teams. As a result, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and make an official complaint to FIFA through the appropriate channels. Despite these restrictions, the Iranian national team will fully focus on its upcoming match and preparations against the Belag team. Statement by the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation on A. Friday.
During the Iran-US War, the participation of the Iran football team was previously uncertain. The team got the visa just ten days before the FIFA World Cup after the team led by FIFA and the US government and coached by Amir Galenoi arrived in Tijuana, Mexico for the World Cup. Iran played their first World Cup match against New Zealand and the team arrived in the city a day before the match. After the match on Monday, the Iran team was supposed to spend the night in Los Angeles but the team was told they had to return to Mexico that same night and the team canceled their recovery session. Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoi later reprimanded FIFA for the treatment of the team. “After today’s game they said to us: ‘You have to leave immediately.’ Recovery is very important to us. We have been told to get on a plane and come back to our camp in Tijuana and that has really bothered us. They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more difficult, more obstacles, but we will not let that stop us from doing our best. We don’t know why they are returning us. This is very strange. Others seem to be planning for us … We were supposed to arrive two nights before the game but they didn’t allow (it). Had to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime. Our team is the most abused team in the whole World Cup. Our federation is not here, our media is not here, our management is not here,” Galenoi said after the match.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the team’s dressing room after the match and addressed the Iranian team. “I know what you’re going through, I understand. But you’re stronger than anyone and you’re sending a strong message to the whole world,” Infantino had told the team.