Iran’s national football team will be allowed to enter the United States two days before their June 26 World Cup match against Egypt. That sounds like the most basic of logistical courtesies, until you realize the squad had been commuting to games from Tijuana, Mexico, because US sanctions initially barred them from staying in the country at all.
The timing of this concession is notable. It arrives alongside the seizure of approximately $1 billion from Nobitex, Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, as part of a broader sanctions enforcement campaign targeting Iranian financial infrastructure.
From Tijuana to the pitch, and back again
Iran sits in Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. Their opening match, a 0-0 draw against Belgium on June 21, required the kind of travel logistics that would make a touring band wince.
Due to US sanctions against Iran, the team established its base of operations in Tijuana. Players and staff were initially required to enter and exit the US on the same day as their matches.
