White House Discusses Easing Travel Restrictions for Iran Ahead of 2026 World Cup Match

The Iranian national football team is allowed to travel by air to the United States, co-host of the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, only one day before their match and must leave the country on the same day according to their visa conditions.

The team had planned to file a complaint with FIFA concerning what they described as restrictions imposed on them during the tournament.

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House World Cup task force, told the BBC that discussions are underway regarding the timing of the Iranian team's travel to and from their third group match, scheduled to take place in Seattle against Egypt on June 27.

Giuliani explained that it is reasonable for the team to follow travel restrictions during their first two matches in Los Angeles, which is a 30-minute flight away. However, since the trip to Seattle could take up to three hours, talks are ongoing to make adjustments.

He added, "I know the President wants to balance competitive fairness on the field with ensuring we do not compromise our national security. We want to guarantee the Iranian team has the opportunity to participate and compete. What we have provided to the Iranian team has been remarkable, and the credit goes to the President."