The U.S. government has partially eased travel restrictions within the U.S. for the Iranian national soccer team, which is currently competing in the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup in North and Central America.
According to AP and Reuters on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that day that it would allow the Iranian national team to travel to the United States two days before their next match.
Iran is scheduled to play a group stage match against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle, Washington. Under this new measure from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Iranian national team will be able to travel to Seattle on Wednesday, but must leave the U.S. after the match on June 26.
Previously, the Iranian national team was required to enter the U.S. one day before a match and depart immediately after the game. As a result, the team had to set up its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than in the U.S., and it is reported that some staff members faced disruptions in their preparations due to restrictions on entering the U.S.
The Iranian delegation and the Iranian Football Federation have protested these restrictions, arguing that they are unfair compared to those imposed on other participating nations. Ali Reza Jahanbakhsh, captain of the Iranian national team, raised the issue, stating that all participating nations should be treated equally.
U.S. authorities explained that this easing of restrictions followed a review of the Iranian national team’s travel procedures.
The U.S. and Iran have been engaged in follow-up negotiations since signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to end the war on June 17.