Iran’s football federation plans to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA after claiming travel restrictions have disrupted the team’s preparations for their World Cup clash against Belgium.
Iran’s national team is preparing to submit an official complaint to FIFA after alleging that travel restrictions during the 2026 World Cup have negatively impacted their tournament preparations.
The dispute centers on Iran’s travel plans ahead of their upcoming group-stage match against Belgium in Los Angeles. According to the Iranian Football Federation, tournament organizers rejected a request that would have allowed the team additional time to prepare for the fixture.
Iran are currently based in Tijuana, Mexico, and had hoped to travel to Los Angeles two days before Sunday’s match. Federation officials argued that the earlier arrival would have given players more time to adjust to local conditions and complete their final preparations.
Speaking on behalf of the federation, a spokesperson claimed that Iran had submitted its tournament preparation schedule well in advance but has repeatedly encountered obstacles that have affected the plans of the coaching staff.
The federation stressed that the request was made for purely sporting reasons. With the match scheduled to kick off at 12 p.m. local time, officials believed an earlier arrival would help players acclimatize, conduct their final training session under appropriate conditions, and optimize their readiness for a crucial World Cup encounter.
However, according to the Iranian federation, the request was denied despite the technical and logistical arguments presented to tournament organizers. The decision has reportedly frustrated both team officials and coaching staff as they continue preparations for one of their most important matches of the tournament.
The latest dispute adds to a growing list of concerns surrounding logistics and travel arrangements at the expanded 2026 World Cup. With teams required to move across large distances between host cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, travel management has become an increasingly important aspect of tournament planning.
Iran now intends to formally raise the matter with FIFA, arguing that the restrictions have hindered their ability to prepare under optimal conditions. Whether the complaint results in any action remains to be seen, but the issue is likely to attract further attention as the World Cup progresses and teams continue navigating the unique challenges posed by the tournament’s vast geographical scale.
