Iran’s national football team is expected to face unique travel arrangements during the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to ongoing political tensions between Iran and the United States, according to reports.
The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to be the largest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams.
However, Iran’s participation is attracting attention for reasons beyond football, as diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington remain strained.
Reports indicate that Iran will be based in Mexico during the group stage of the competition rather than in the United States, where some of its matches are scheduled to take place.
Under the reported arrangements, the team will only be permitted to enter U.S. territory on the day of its matches and will be required to leave shortly after each game.
Iran’s three group-stage matches are expected to be played in Los Angeles and Seattle. As a result, the squad will have to travel back and forth between Mexico and the United States for each fixture.
The arrangement is likely to create additional logistical challenges for the team compared to other participating nations, which will typically remain in a single base camp throughout the group stage.
The reported restrictions stem from the long-standing political dispute between the United States and Iran.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been severed since 1980, and tensions have remained high over issues including sanctions, regional security, and nuclear policy.
Despite the political backdrop, FIFA has consistently maintained that football should remain separate from political disputes.
The world governing body has previously emphasised its commitment to ensuring that all qualified nations are able to participate in its tournaments.
Iran is one of Asia’s most successful national teams and has become a regular presence at the World Cup in recent years.
Team Melli has qualified for four of the last five editions of the tournament and will be hoping to make a significant impact in 2026.
