Iranβs 2026 World Cup team will lodge a complaint with FIFA claiming they are being subjected to travel restrictions during the tournament in North America, the Iranian football federation spokesperson said on Thursday.
βDespite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iranβs national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organisers, affecting the implementation of its technical staffβs plans,β the spokesperson said, according to AFP news agency.
Iran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States two days before their next group match against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday. But the Iranian federation claims its request was turned down.
βGiven that the game will be played at 12pm local time in Los Angeles, the football federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match,β the spokesman said.
βThe aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalise preparations.
βDespite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied.β
Β
After Iranβs first World Cup game on Monday β in which they drew 2-2 with New Zealand in a politically charged encounter β US officials said that the team will have to leave the country within hours of the full-time whistle at their World Cup group games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
The response from the World Cup 2026 cohost nation came on Tuesday following criticism of its handling of the Iranian teamβs visasΒ and stay in the US after their first game.
The Iranian delegation left the US hours after the match in LA ended at about 8pm local time (03:00 GMT) and returned to their base camp in Mexico, prompting criticism of the US handling of their visas, as the team did not get a day to recover at their hotel.
The US administration has pushed back against the Iranian claims.
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Monday that Iran had been informed in advance that they would be allowed to come into the US only on the day before the game.
βThe team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match,β Giuliani told CBS News.
βTheyβll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And theyβll be able to do that again in Los Angeles.β
He added that the procedure would be the same for Iranβs final group game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Iran, who are in Group G, kicked off their campaign this week in North America after months of uncertainty over the teamβs participation in the World Cup amid the US-Israel war on Iran.
South Africa scored β a β penalty seven minutes from full-time as they fought β back to draw 1-1 with the Czech β Republic at the World Cup after falling behind early in the Group βA clash.
Teboho Mokoena slotted home the spot kick after Pavel Sulcβs handball handed the South Africans a lifeline on Thursday as they were staring β at potential early β elimination.
The Czechs led from the sixth minute when Michal Sadilek struck β home after a clever slipped β pass from Alexandr β Sojka following Adam Hlozekβs delivery from the right wing.
Both teams now βhave a point after losing their respective opening games β two behind cohosts Mexico and South Korea, who face-off later on Thursday.
South Africa next face South Korea, while the Czech Republic take on the daunting task of playing Mexico in the Estadio Azteca.
Both sides started with disappointing performances and defeats on the World Cupβs opening day, but the Czechs quickly set about making amends.
Patrik Schick is the biggest name in a Czech side lacking the star quality of previous generations but the Bayer Leverkusen forward missed a glorious chance inside the first minute when he planted a header wide.
Miroslav Koubekβs men only had to wait another five minutes to take the lead.
Adam Hlozekβs cross was classily cushioned by Alexandr Sojka into the path of Sadilek, who calmly stroked the ball past Ronwen Williams.
Now in their fourth attempt, South Africa have never progressed beyond the group stage at the World Cup.
Hugo Broos has overseen an upturn in Bafana Bafanaβs fortunes since taking charge five years ago.
The 2010 hosts had not qualified for the World Cup since 2002 but finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Their return to the global stage has exposed a lack of quality, though, particularly in forward areas.
The Czechs were left to rue not making more of their chances to kill the game off early in the second half.
Vladimir Darida took too long to get his shot off with a big chance before Lukas Cervβs long-range effort was tipped over by Williams.
There were thousands of empty seats on show at the futuristic home of the NFLβs Atlanta Falcons, but those that were in attendance loudly booed the mid-half hydration breaks in an enclosed and air-conditioned stadium.
The majority of the crowd were backing South Africa and finally had something to cheer seven minutes from time.
Thapelo Masekoβs shot hit the arm of the unfortunate Pavel Sulc and referee Tori Penso, part of an all-female officiating team, pointed to the spot.
Mokoena confidently drilled home the spot-kick for his nationβs first World Cup goal in 16 years.
They came close to a second five minutes later when Matej Kovar saved from Relebohile Mofokeng.
But both sides had to settle for a point that could yet prove vital come the end of Wednesdayβs final Group A games.
A first-ever hat-trick for Lionel Messi, heavyweights Spain stunned by tiny Cape Verde, and DR Congo silencing Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal.
What more could you ask from the opening week of a FIFA World Cup?
After the first round of group matches, here are our top 10 takeaways:
Before the tournament kicked off in North America, many thought Lionel Messi would be gearing himself up for his final act. But after his first-ever World Cup hat-trick β one that also matched the record for most World Cup goals β Messi has reminded us his story is not over just yet.
While the Messi mania dominated headlines over recent days, his longtime rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, also made the news, albeit for the wrong reasons. βIs he past his prime?β was the collective question of viewers after his mostly anonymous display in Portugalβs 1-1 draw with DR Congo on Wednesday.
Becoming Franceβs all-time leading scorer always seemed a matter of when, not if, for Kylian Mbappe, and achieving the feat in their opening World Cup match was further proof of his extraordinary talent. The 27-year-old, now just two shy of matching the all-time haul for most World Cup goals, is making a habit of chasing records.
Long-range rockets, tap-ins, headers and more. There was no shortage of goals, and Argentinian legend Messi is the outright leader with three strikes. As many as seven players β including Englandβs Harry Kane, Norwayβs Erling Haaland and Franceβs Mbappe β are tied for the second spot with two goals each.
This is, by far, the upset of the tournament. Spain β the absolute frontrunners for the World Cup β stumbled at their first hurdle, being held to a shock goalless draw by Cape Verde, the archipelago west of the African continent of about half a million people, and whose team sits 65 places below the World No 2 in the FIFA world rankings.
Yoane Wissaβs first-ever goal, DR Congoβs first at a World Cup, sparked joy among millions from Kinshasa to Niangara. And for the other teams competing in the tournament, the 1-1 draw with No 5-ranked Portugal sent a warning that the underdogs are out to challenge some of footballβs best sides, especially when the world is watching.
The 7-1 thrashing by Germany did little to dampen the spirit of Curacao fans, many of whom made the journey to the United States. For the Caribbean tiny island β the smallest-ever country to play at a World Cup β defeat meant nothing in comparison to the happiness of seeing one of their own score at the sportβs biggest stage. Livano Comenencia is a hero for all of Curacao.
Pink seems to be the colour of the month, well, at least at the World Cup. Several players were seen wearing the vibrant, monochromatic boots β or cleats, as Americans would say β regardless of the manufacturer. Be it Nike, Adidas or Puma, sportswear giants have joined this trend of making their boots βelectric fuchsiaβ.
Itβs safe to say a World Cup is the biggest celebration of football. And some countries just do it better than others.
With their green-and-yellow shirts, flags and pounding drums, Brazil fans brought a slice of Rio to New York, while Moroccans later joined the party, the red smoke from the flares lighting up the World Cup mood. In Boston, Scotlandβs famous Tartan Army chugged pint after pint, nearly β draining some pubs of all their beer in the first weekend during their World Cup occupation of the city.
To best sum up the football craze in tournament co-host Mexico, the fandom is not limited to humans. Β A βdomesticated duck named Merlin, sporting a miniature Mexico shirt and custom β duck socks, has β waddled his way into the hearts of many, becoming an unlikely unofficial mascot for the countryβs World Cup campaign.
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