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Iran's World Cup team claims unfair travel restrictions ahead of matches

Yahoo Sports • 2 min read • Latest: Jun 19, 2026, 9:27 PM

Last updated Jun 19, 2026

Iran's World Cup team claims unfair travel restrictions ahead of matches
Summary

Iran's national soccer team argues it is being unfairly subjected to strict travel rules during the World Cup, requiring them to fly to matches the day before and return after. Despite their complaints, this form of scheduling is common for various teams in the tournament. Team Melli had a five-hour flight from Tijuana to Los Angeles before their 2-2 draw against New Zealand. They will be lodging a complaint with FIFA regarding their travel restrictions, which they believe limit their preparation and negatively affect players' performance. Many teams have similarly traveled shortly before their games, adhering to FIFA's existing guidelines for team travel.

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Yahoo SportsAssociated Press
Status Watch
  • •Iran's travel complaints center on 24-hour match arrival requirements.
  • •Team Melli faced delays and complications flying to Los Angeles.
  • •Iran is lodging a formal complaint with FIFA regarding travel restrictions.
  • •Many teams have traveled shortly before matches, in line with FIFA regulations.
  • •The team's travel schedule has sparked discussions on fairness in World Cup arrangements.
Latest Updates
  • 9:27 PMYahoo Sports — Iran says it's being treated unfairly. Its World Cup travel schedule isn't unique
  • 9:27 PMAssociated Press — Iran says it’s being treated unfairly. Its World Cup travel schedule isn’t unique - AP News
What they're saying
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Iran's World Cup team says it's unfairly being made to travel to matches the day before games and return immediately after, but that schedule itself isn't uncommon among teams. Iran has been forced to comply with what White House FIFA task force head Andrew Giuliani said were previously mandated rules stemming from the war, but those restrictions also align with FIFA guidelines for general team travel. Team Melli made the 127-mile (204-kilometer) charter flight from Tijuana International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport the day before its opening 2-2 draw against New Zealand on Monday, a typically short trip that team captain Mehdi Taremi said instead took five hours, including security and immigration checks.

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Iran says it unfairly is being asked to travel to World Cup matches on the day before games and return immediately after, but that schedule itself is not uncommon among teams. Team Melli made the 127-mile charter flight from Tijuana International Airport to L…

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