The US Department of Homeland Security quietly shifted its position on one of the more unusual logistical standoffs of the 2026 World Cup. Iran’s national football team, known as Team Melli, will now be permitted to enter the United States two days before their group stage match against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. That might sound like a minor scheduling tweak. It is not.
Until June 23, Iran’s players were operating under restrictions that allowed entry only roughly 24 hours before kickoff, with a mandatory departure the same evening the match ended.
What changed, and why it matters
The DHS confirmed the updated terms on June 23, giving the team a slightly more workable window before their third group game. The departure requirement stays in place: players and staff must leave the evening of the match.
Iran’s team has been based in Tijuana, Mexico for the tournament. US sanctions and travel ban implications made a straightforward base camp inside the host country a non-starter, so the team crosses the border when competition requires it.
