The U.S.is easing its restrictions on Iran's World Cup team, allowing the squad to travel into the country two days before its next match, the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday.The team will still be required to leave after Friday's match in Seattle, a department spokesperson said.A spokesperson for the Iran Football Federation confirmed that the team will leave its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, on Wednesday for Seattle."This was planned on our end," Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, told The Associated Press.
"We were going to look at how the first two movements went, and if they went smoothly, we would extend the extra day in light of the longer travel time."The policy change was first reported by NBC News and comes as officials from both countries negotiate over how to end the war in Iran.Iran's squad has complained about the travel restrictions levied on the team, and the challenges it has faced since the outbreak of war.Iran in March sought to move its group-stage matches to Mexico, with which it has diplomatic ties.
Its request to move its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana was granted two weeks before the team's arrival.Several team officials and members of the support staff have been barred from traveling into the U.S.
with the team.For the first two matches, near Los Angeles, the team was not permitted to travel until the day before.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."Right now we need recovery more than anything," Ghalenoei said through an interpreter after the 0-0 draw against Belgium.
"The conditions have been extremely hard for us."It's not uncommon for teams to travel a day before the match, and it's in line with FIFA regulations, which state that "each team shall travel from its team base camp to the match venue one day before matchday (MD‑1) and in...