The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has granted Iran's national football team permission to enter the United States two days before their World Cup match against Egypt, easing previous travel restrictions that had drawn complaints from the team.
Iran had been training in Mexico and were initially only allowed to enter the US 24 hours before their first two matches, a schedule that coach Amir Ghalenoei described as making the team the "most oppressed" at the tournament. Captain Mehdi Taremi called the logistical issues a "disaster."
New Travel Arrangements
On Tuesday, a DHS spokesperson told NBC that the Iranian team would be permitted to travel to Seattle for the June 26 match two days in advance. "Ahead of the match in Seattle on 26 June, the Iranian team will be allowed to come in match day minus two, so two days before the match," the spokesperson said. "They'll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match."
The spokesperson added, "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."
Impact on Performance
The tightened travel schedule had put the team at a disadvantage, particularly regarding post-match recovery. After their Group G opener with New Zealand, Ghalenoei argued that Iran was the most oppressed team at the tournament. Taremi echoed those sentiments, calling the recent weeks a disaster due to the logistical hurdles.
Iran have drawn twice and will progress to the knockout stage if they beat Egypt. Another draw could also be enough depending on other results.
Broader Context
Team Melli's participation at the World Cup comes amid ongoing talks between the US and Iran to end a conflict that began in February. The early entry permission marks a slight easing of tensions, at least in the sporting arena.
