US officials confirmed that Iran's national team must leave the country within hours of the final whistle of each 2026 World Cup group-stage match in Los Angeles and Seattle, according to an announcement from Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force.
"We made it clear this is the procedure," Giuliani told the Associated Press. Under the arrangement, Iran is allowed to enter the US one day before a match and must depart the same evening after the game.
Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in a Group G match in Los Angeles on June 15, after months of uncertainty over their ability to participate in the World Cup amid heightened US-Israel tensions with Iran. Immediately after the match, the Iranian delegation had to leave the US at 8 p.m. and return to their base in Mexico, rather than staying overnight at a hotel as is customary.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said the team was ordered to leave the US just hours after the match, despite plans to remain in California for recovery. Midfielder Mehdi Torabi faced an expired visa issue after the first match, but the US State Department confirmed it granted him multiple visas for subsequent games. "As soon as the issue was identified, we ensured the player could participate in all matches," a State Department spokesperson said.
Giuliani declined to provide details about some support staff and Iranian officials being denied entry but reiterated Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement: "Anyone with direct ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is not allowed into the US, and the World Cup is no reason for an exception."
Captain Mehdi Taremi complained about the team enduring five hours of travel and security checks on a short journey from Tijuana to Los Angeles on June 14. "I think FIFA should help us more than this," Taremi said.
