Entry Rules Eased: Iran Men's National Team Allowed Into U.S. Two Days Before Seattle Match, Must Leave Immediately Afterward

According to the latest reports from foreign media, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Tuesday local time that the entry authorization granted to the Iran national football team for this tournament has been relaxed by one day compared with previous World Cup regulations. In a statement, a spokesperson for the relevant agency said that Iran, preparing for its third group-stage match in Seattle on June 26, has been permitted to arrive in the United States two days before the game, but must leave the country on the same day the match concludes. All security procedures and regulations remain unchanged, and officials emphasized their commitment to providing the safest possible environment for all participants and fans.

Before the start of this World Cup, Iran relocated its training camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. Team officials complained that they had been unreasonably required to arrive at match venues only one day before kickoff and to return immediately after matches. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Sunday local time that his side delivered a “commendable performance” under “extremely unfavorable conditions” in a 0-0 draw with Belgium at SoFi Stadium. He further noted that over the past several weeks the team had frequently faced tight travel schedules and increasingly complicated visa procedures when entering the United States and Mexico, leaving almost no adequate time for pre-match preparations, while their opponent Belgium is a world powerhouse ranked 10th in the FIFA rankings.

In the previous match in Los Angeles, Iran entered the United States on Saturday night and was required to return to Mexico immediately after Sunday's match. The team stated that its request to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match had been rejected and that it planned to file an official complaint with FIFA. Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in its opening group-stage match and will face Egypt at Seattle's Lumen Field on Friday local time.

Speaking to the media last week, a White House official responded to Iran's criticism, saying the United States had done everything possible to uphold fairness by issuing visas not only to all 31 players but also to every coach in order to ensure competitive integrity, and added that Iran should be grateful for the arrangements provided by the U.S. side. The official also revealed that visa applications for some members of Iran's traveling delegation had been denied. On Sunday local time, another senior official disclosed to the media that an individual with direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had attempted to board Iran's flight from Mexico to Los Angeles, which was scheduled for Sunday's World Cup match against Belgium. After months of tensions and uncertainty surrounding participation eligibility, Iran became the first team to compete in a World Cup hosted on the soil of a country that has previously been involved in military conflict with its own nation.