Iran to lodge complaint over travel restrictions

Iran will lodge an official complaint with FIFA regarding travel restrictions impacting their participation in the 2026 World Cup. The Iranian Football Federation stated on March 10, 2024, that these restrictions are preventing their national team and support staff from traveling to the tournament. The federation cited specific issues with visa approvals and flight availability as the primary concerns. This action follows previous instances where Iranian athletes have faced challenges with international travel due to geopolitical tensions. The complaint aims to seek FIFA's intervention to ensure fair play and equal opportunity for all participating nations. Iran is scheduled to compete in the qualification rounds for the 2026 World Cup, which is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.