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DHS Allows Iran Team to Enter U.S. Two Days Before Seattle World Cup Match

It gives Iran 48 hours in the U.S. before the June 26 game while preserving strict exit and visa controls.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Players of IR Iran pose for a team photograph before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match between Belgium and IR Iran at Los Angeles Stadium on June 21, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Iran FIFA team leaves note of thanks for LA (Iran Football Federation via Telegram)
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Overview

  • The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday changed guidance to permit Iran’s national team to enter the U.S. two days before its June 26 match in Seattle, reversing the previous 24-hour arrival window.
  • DHS still requires the delegation to leave the United States the evening the match ends and has kept visa denials for several Iranian staff in place.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said an individual alleged to have direct ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was blocked from boarding the team’s plane, a security justification officials cited for the tight rules.
  • Iran’s squad based its tournament camp in Tijuana after being moved from Tucson because of U.S. travel limits, and the Iran Football Federation has said it planned to file a formal complaint with FIFA over what it called unequal treatment.
  • The change follows weeks of diplomatic and security decisions under President Donald Trump’s administration during an ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and could affect how host governments balance safety checks with teams’ competitive preparation in future matches.