White House Weighs Easing Travel Rules for Iran at 2026 World Cup

The White House is considering loosening unusual travel restrictions imposed on Iran’s national team during the 2026 World Cup. Under the current visa arrangement, Iranian players may enter the United States only 24 hours before a match and must leave on the day of the game, a setup tied to security tensions and the strained relationship between the two countries.

The special rules have angered the Iranian camp. After Iran’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand in the opening round, coach Amir Ghalenoei said Iran was “the most oppressed team in the tournament.” Captain Mehdi Taremi called the situation a “catastrophe,” saying the team had been forced to fly back and forth from its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico.

Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House task force for the World Cup, said talks are underway over travel arrangements for Iran’s third group-stage match, against Egypt in Seattle on June 27. He said the current limits made sense for matches in Los Angeles, about a half-hour from Mexico, but Seattle is different because the trip can take up to three hours. Giuliani said, “We want to keep the balance between fair competition and national security,” and added that “President Trump wants to allow the Iran team to arrive and compete. What has been done for them so far was extraordinary, and the president deserves credit for that.”

Meanwhile, Iran’s football federation is pressing FIFA for equal preparation conditions. In a formal statement, it said all teams should be allowed to reach the host city two days before a match and return to base camp only the following day. Iran argues the current restrictions hurt players’ physical and professional preparation and plans to file an official complaint with FIFA. Before the Seattle talks, Iran will face Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday, a match that could bring it significantly closer to the knockout stage.