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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security eases travel restrictions for the Iranian soccer team, allowing them to arrive in Seattle, Washington two days before their match at Lumen
Confirmed
The team will still be required to leave after Friday’s match in Seattle, a department spokesperson said. Brown / AFP via Iran have been granted permission by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to travel to the United States a day earlier for their final World Cup group game on Friday.
We remain committed to providing the safest tournament possible for players, staff, and fans alike,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said. The Iran soccer federation (FFIRI) said last week it intended to lodge an official complaint with FIFA regarding its World Cup travel arrangements Iran are second in Group G on two points after two games and are bidding to reach the knock-out phase of the World Cup for the first time.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei repeatedly said that restriction disadvantaged the team, especially when it had less than 24 hours on the ground before its noon match Sunday. The typically short trip took five hours the day before its first match against New Zealand, team captain Mehdi Taremi said.
Prior to the team leaving their pre-World Cup base in Turkey , 13 members of support staff were not granted permission to enter the U.S. and have remained in Mexico when matches have taken place. The Iran team has also said it experienced difficulties entering and exiting the U.S. each time it made the 127-mile (204-kilometer) flight between Tijuana and Los Angeles.
Its request to move its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana was granted two weeks before the team’s arrival. We just ask for the same procedure as for all the other 47 teams,” Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said Sunday.
What's confirmed
- The team will still be required to leave after Friday’s match in Seattle, a department spokesperson said.
- We remain committed to providing the safest tournament possible for players, staff, and fans alike,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said.
- Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei repeatedly said that restriction disadvantaged the team, especially when it had less than 24 hours on the ground before its noon match Sunday.
- Prior to the team leaving their pre-World Cup base in Turkey , 13 members of support staff were not granted permission to enter the U.S.
- Its request to move its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana was granted two weeks before the team’s arrival.
What's still developing
- Its request to move its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana was granted two weeks before the team’s arrival.
- Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei repeatedly said that restriction disadvantaged the team, especially when it had less than 24 hours on the ground before its noon match Sunday.
- We just ask for the same procedure as for all the other 47 teams,” Iran captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh said Sunday.
- The Iran team has also said it experienced difficulties entering and exiting the U.S. each time it made the 127-mile (204-kilometer) flight between Tijuana and Los Angeles.
- The typically short trip took five hours the day before its first match against New Zealand, team captain Mehdi Taremi said.
- Brown / AFP via Iran have been granted permission by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to travel to the United States a day earlier for their final World Cup group game on Friday.
- We remain committed to providing the safest tournament possible for players, staff, and fans alike,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said.
- The Iran soccer federation (FFIRI) said last week it intended to lodge an official complaint with FIFA regarding its World Cup travel arrangements Iran are second in Group G on two points after two games and are…