![Iran's World Cup squad poses for a photo before their Group G second-round match against Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium on June 21 (local time) during the 2026 North America World Cup. [AFP]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/24/news-p.v1.20260624.6e611a9c1d144aa984b42831ac786529_P1.jpg)
The US government has eased entry restrictions on Iran's national soccer team competing in the 2026 North America World Cup.
The Department of Homeland Security relaxed travel restrictions on the Iranian squad, allowing the team to enter the United States two days before their matches, NBC, Reuters and the AP reported Tuesday (local time).
A DHS spokesperson said Iran's team "received authorization to enter the United States on Wednesday, two days before their third group-stage match in Seattle on Friday."
Iran faces Egypt in the final Group G match at Seattle Stadium on Friday.
Their earlier matches — against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 — were both held in Los Angeles. Until now, the team had not been permitted to enter the country until the day before each match, and for the Belgium game the squad reportedly arrived less than 24 hours before kickoff.
After the 0-0 draw with Belgium, Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei said the conditions had been extremely difficult. "What we need most right now is recovery," he said.
![[AFP]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/24/news-p.v1.20260624.420b0ce88815418d9a905f204b4c270a_P1.jpg)
With US-Iran relations strained by the Middle East conflict, Iran had hoped to play its group-stage matches in Mexico, which maintains diplomatic ties with Tehran, rather than in the United States.
Entry procedures remained unclear until late in the tournament. The team's base camp was relocated from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, though the group-stage matches were ultimately held in the US. Some team officials and support staff were unable to enter the country at all.
The distance between Tijuana and Los Angeles is about 204 kilometers (127 miles), but the team reportedly encountered difficulties at the US border crossing. Captain Mehdi Taremi entered the country the day before the New Zealand match and said the flight alone took five hours.
The distance to Seattle is 1,930 kilometers. The Iranian squad requested additional time to acclimatize and recover before the match, and the team is scheduled to train at the University of Washington on Thursday.
The policy shift comes as the United States and Iran hold high-level talks on implementing a memorandum of understanding on ending the war.
Andrew Giuliani, the White House's FIFA task force chief, told the AP the move was planned by the US side from the start. "We wanted to see how the first two trips went, and if they went smoothly, we planned to add an extra day given the longer travel distance," he said.
ygmoon@heraldcorp.com
