By By Elizabeth Ugbo
Iran’s national football team will file a complaint with FIFA after tournament organisers denied its request to travel early to Los Angeles for Sunday’s FIFA World Cup match against Belgium. The Football Federation of Iran said it requested permission to arrive two days before the fixture to help players adapt to local conditions, complete final training, and finish match preparations. However, organisers rejected the request, prompting the federation to challenge the decision.
Federation Explains Early Arrival Request
According to the federation’s spokesman, the team wanted to leave its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, two days before the match.
He explained that the game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. local time in Los Angeles. Therefore, the coaching staff believed an earlier arrival would give players enough time to adjust to the weather, recover from travel, and complete their final training session.
The spokesman said the request was based on technical and sporting reasons rather than convenience.
Iran Claims Organisers Rejected the Proposal
Despite submitting its tournament preparation schedule well in advance, the federation said organisers denied the request.
The spokesman argued that the decision disrupted the coaching staff’s plans and limited the team’s ability to prepare effectively for the crucial fixture.
FIFA Complaint Planned
As a result, Iran will submit a formal complaint to FIFA over what it describes as unfair travel restrictions during the World Cup in North America.
The federation insists the restrictions have affected its preparations and hopes FIFA will review the matter to ensure fair treatment for all participating teams.
Iran faces Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday as it continues its World Cup campaign.
