Iran has threatened to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA after tournament organisers rejected its request to travel early from Mexico to Los Angeles ahead of a crucial Group G match against Belgium.
The Iranian Football Federation said the team, based in Tijuana, Mexico, sought permission to move two days before Sunday’s noon kick-off to allow proper acclimatisation and final preparations.
“Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran’s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organisers, affecting the implementation of its technical staff’s plans,” a federation spokesman said.
Officials insisted the request was based purely on sporting grounds, citing the need for players to adapt to local conditions and complete training ahead of the important fixture.
“Given that the game will be played at 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match,” the spokesman added.
“The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations.”
This marks the second time Iranian officials claim their travel arrangements have been turned down during the 2026 tournament.
The federation said it would now seek FIFA’s intervention, arguing that the restrictions are hampering the team’s ability to compete effectively in one of its key matches.
