(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Iran to file complaint with FIFA over World Cup travel restrictions
TEHRAN: Iran’s football federation says it will lodge a complaint with FIFA, claiming the national team is facing travel restrictions during the ongoing World Cup in North America.
A federation spokesman said on Thursday that despite submitting a detailed preparation schedule in advance, the team has encountered repeated limitations affecting its planning and logistics.
According to the spokesman, Iran had requested permission for its squad to travel from its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to Los Angeles two days before their upcoming group match against Belgium, scheduled for Sunday. The request was reportedly denied.
The federation said the early travel plan was intended to help players adjust to conditions, complete training sessions, and finalise match preparations.
Iran also expressed dissatisfaction over travel arrangements following its opening match, a 2–2 draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles, stating that the team was required to leave the city shortly after the game.
US officials, however, have said the travel arrangements were communicated in advance and apply uniformly across participating teams. A White House Fifa Task Force representative stated that teams are generally permitted to enter the United States one day before matches and depart on the same day after fixtures conclude.
The arrangements for Iran’s remaining group matches, including their fixture against Egypt in Seattle, are expected to follow similar protocols.
Iran’s football federation says it will raise the issue formally with FIFA for review.
