Iran Team Wins 2-Day U.S. Entry for Seattle Match After Travel Complaints
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 23
Iran Team Wins 2-Day U.S. Entry for Seattle Match After Travel Complaints
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 23
Summary
DHS said Iran can enter the United States two days before its June 26 World Cup match in Seattle, one day earlier than allowed for its previous games.
The shift follows Iran's complaints that day-before arrivals from its Tijuana base left players with little recovery time; the team said it would complain to FIFA after a similar request for Los Angeles was denied.
For the Belgium match, Iran landed Saturday night, played to a 0-0 draw Sunday, and returned to Mexico the same night; coach Amir Ghalenoei called the conditions the "worst possible."
U.S. officials said security protocols are unchanged and the team must still leave on match day, while the White House defended its handling after granting visas to all 31 players but denying some surrounding officials.
The travel dispute has unfolded amid wider security tensions: Homeland Security said a person with direct IRGC ties tried to board Iran's flight to Los Angeles from Mexico.