US eases travel restrictions for Iranian team before Egypt match

WASHINTON, June 24 (YPA) – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday that it would ease travel restrictions imposed on Iran’s national team participating in the World Cup, allowing the squad to enter the United States two days before its next match against Egypt at the 2026 World Cup.

A department spokesperson said the team would still be required to leave after the match, which is scheduled for Friday evening Seattle time as part of the third and final round of Group G in the tournament, which is being hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

A spokesperson for the Iranian Football Federation confirmed that the team would depart its training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, for Seattle on Wednesday.

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House task force on the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), told the Associated Press: “This was planned on our side. We were going to monitor how the first two trips went, and if everything proceeded smoothly, we would grant the additional day given the length of the travel.”

NBC News first reported the policy change, which comes as officials from both countries are negotiating how to end the war in Iran.

The Iranian national team has complained about the travel restrictions and the challenges it has faced since the outbreak of the war.

AA