The Iranian football federation has announced its intention to file a formal complaint with FIFA, alleging that their team is facing unfair travel constraints during the ongoing North American World Cup. The federation expressed frustration after their request to travel from their Tijuana base camp to Los Angeles two days prior to their match against Belgium was rejected. According to officials, this extra time was crucial for the squad to acclimate to the environment and complete their final tactical preparations, but tournament organizers denied the request despite advance notice.

The dispute highlights a growing tension, as the US administration maintains that the protocols were established well before the tournament began. Andrew Giuliani, representing the White House FIFA Task Force, stated that all teams—including Iran—were informed that entry into the United States would be restricted to the day before each match, with a mandatory departure immediately following the game. This situation is the latest hurdle for the Iranian team, which previously navigated visa complications for 15 of its staff members and a last-minute relocation of their training camp from Arizona to the Mexican border due to regional geopolitical instability.