The United States has eased travel restrictions on Iran's national football team, allowing the squad to arrive in Seattle two days before its next FIFA World Cup match after initially requiring players to enter the country only one day before games.
The policy adjustment was confirmed Tuesday by the US Department of Homeland Security, which said the decision followed a review of the team's previous travel arrangements during the tournament.
Iran's Football Federation said the squad will leave its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, on Wednesday and travel to Seattle ahead of Friday's group-stage fixture.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said the move had been anticipated if earlier travel operations proceeded without issues.
"We were going to look at how the first two movements went, and if they went smoothly, we would extend the extra day because of the longer travel distance," Giuliani told The Associated Press.
Despite the change, Iranian players and officials will still be required to leave the United States immediately after the match and return to their base camp in Mexico.
Iran has repeatedly raised concerns over the travel arrangements imposed during the tournament. Team officials argued that arriving less than 24 hours before matches placed players at a competitive disadvantage and limited recovery time between fixtures.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said the restrictions had created additional challenges for the squad, particularly ahead of Sunday's goalless draw against Belgium in California.
Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh also called for equal treatment, saying the team was seeking the same logistical arrangements provided to other participating nations.
The issue became more significant due to the long-distance travel involved. The journey from Tijuana to Seattle covers nearly 2,000 kilometres, prompting requests for additional preparation and recovery time.
The Iranian delegation has also reported delays during border crossings between Mexico and the United States. Players said travel procedures significantly extended what would normally be short flights between Tijuana and Los Angeles.
The easing of restrictions comes amid broader diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran following months of conflict in the Middle East. However, Iran's coaching staff and players have largely avoided political commentary during the tournament, maintaining that their focus remains on football.
Iran will hold a training session at the University of Washington on Thursday before facing Egypt in Seattle on Friday.
The United States has not confirmed whether similar travel accommodations will be granted to other teams facing comparable logistical challenges during the tournament.
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