Iran’s football federation is preparing to file a formal complaint with FIFA over what it describes as unfair restrictions imposed on the national team during the 2026 World Cup. Officials argue that travel and visa-related limitations have significantly disrupted the squad’s preparations.
The federation’s latest grievance centers on tournament logistics that require the team to leave the United States shortly after matches and return to its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico. Iran has been permitted to re-enter the U.S. only shortly before its next fixture, a schedule that coach Amir Ghalenoei says leaves little time for recovery and training.
Captain Mehdi Taremi described the situation as a «disaster» for preparations, while Ghalenoei called Iran the «most oppressed» team at the tournament. The federation argues that the restrictions violate FIFA’s principle of equal conditions for all participating nations.
The complaint follows a series of challenges for Iran ahead of the World Cup, including visa denials for several federation officials and support staff, the relocation of the team’s training base from Arizona to Mexico, and disputes over ticket allocations for supporters.
FIFA has not yet publicly responded to Iran’s planned complaint. Iran’s next Group G match is against Belgium as the team seeks to keep its World Cup campaign on track despite the off-field controversy.
