U.S. Allows Iran World Cup Squad to Arrive Two Days Early for Seattle Match

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that Iran's World Cup team may enter the United States two days before its upcoming match in Seattle, rather than the previously enforced one-day arrival window. The team will still be required to leave the country after Friday's game, a department spokesperson said.

Iran Football Federation officials confirmed the squad will depart its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, on Wednesday for Seattle. "This was planned on our end," Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, told the Associated Press. "We were going to look at how the first two movements went, and if they went smoothly, we would extend the extra day in light of the longer travel time."

The policy adjustment follows reports that both U.S. and Iranian officials are negotiating broader issues related to diplomatic relations. Iran's coach Amir Ghalenoei previously said the limited travel time before the team's first two matches in Los Angeles put the side at a disadvantage, leaving less than 24 hours to acclimate before a noon kickoff. "Right now we need recovery more than anything," he said through a translator after a 0-0 draw with Belgium.

FIFA regulations typically require teams to travel from their base camp to the match venue one day before the game, with exceptions allowing travel two days prior. Iran had requested additional time to adjust to host cities and recover from the 1,200-mile journey to Seattle and has scheduled a training session at the University of Washington on Thursday.

Player Alireza Jahanbakhsh said the team seeks the same procedural treatment as the other 47 participants. "We don’t ask for much. We just ask for the same procedure as for all the other 47 teams," he said.

Earlier, U.S. Homeland Security official Markwayne Mullin suggested that an individual with ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had attempted to enter the country, a claim the Iranian soccer federation denied, calling it false.

It remains uncertain whether Egypt, Iran’s next opponent, will receive a similar two-day entry allowance. FIFA denied Egypt’s request to fly directly to Seattle, citing security resource constraints, and the team returned to its base camp in Spokane, Washington, after its recent match in Vancouver.