World Cup 2026 live updates: Cristiano Ronaldo scores as Portugal takes 2-0 lead over Uzbekistan. Up next: England vs. Ghana
The Department of Homeland Security is altering the rules for Iran’s nationwide soccer group forward of its third World Cup match on Friday to accommodate additional time afforded to different international locations within the event, an company spokesperson stated.
The shift comes as the Iranian soccer federation stated it deliberate to lodge an official criticism with FIFA, the governing physique, over its remedy within the US up to now.
The group will now be allowed to journey to Seattle two days earlier than the sport, permitting for an additional day past the 24-hour window given to Team Melli for its first two video games. But the group will nonetheless be requested to depart for his or her house base in Tijuana, Mexico, after the match wraps.
“Again, the President wants to make sure that we’re talking about what actually happens on the pitch. A lot of that is making sure that things are safe and secure, not just around the stadiums, but around base camps and training sites,” the DHS spokesperson stated.
The Iranian group was initially slated to coach at a facility in Tucson, Arizona, earlier than their base camp was abruptly moved to Tijuana, Mexico, in late May. That means the group has shuttled to and from video games in a shorter period of time than different international locations and so they’ve needed to depart the US after every of their first two matches.
The group had beforehand complained about unfair remedy within the event up to now, the place the opposite 47 groups have been capable of journey to matches sooner and keep afterwards for restoration time if they like. The Iranian group coach stated his gamers had been “the most oppressed team in the whole World Cup.”
Iran tied each of their first two matches in Los Angeles and will advance with a victory over Egypt on Friday in Seattle.
