U.S. host officials “caused problems” for Iran forward Mehdi Taremi and ​assistant coach Saeed Alhoei, delaying their ‌delegation as they travelled to Seattle ​for the World Cup ⁠match against Egypt, Iran’s football federation said on Wednesday (June 24, 2026).

Iran’s ISNA news agency, citing the ‌federation, said team members were waiting for Taremi and Alhoei ‌to rejoin the group.

The reported ‌incident ⁠comes days after U.S. authorities ⁠eased travel restrictions on Iran’s World Cup delegation following complaints from Tehran and the team ​that strict entry ‌rules were disrupting preparations.

It was not immediately clear what caused the latest delay. U.S. authorities did not ‌immediately comment.

U.S. officials had previously required ​Iran, who are based in Tijuana, Mexico during the tournament, ⁠to enter the United States only shortly before matches and leave soon ‌afterwards.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei had criticised the arrangements as unfair and said repeated cross-border travel left his players fatigued. U.S. authorities this week allowed the team to arrive in ‌Seattle two days before their match against ​Egypt on Friday, granting greater flexibility than for their earlier ⁠games.

Relations between Washington and Tehran have added ⁠political sensitivity to Iran’s participation in the World Cup, with ‌the team facing heightened travel and security restrictions throughout the tournament.

Iran’s sports and youth minister said it’s “not possible” for the country to take part in the World Cup after the United States killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in its ongoing war.

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Iran was expected to take part in the World Cup that will be held across North America in June, but Iranian Sports and Youth Minister Ahmad Donyamali told state television that his country’s soccer team players are not safe in the U.S., according to a video of the interview posted on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).

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“Due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran — they have imposed two wars on us over just eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people — definitely it’s not possible for us to take part in the World Cup,” he said.

Iran is scheduled to play in Inglewood, California, against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 before finishing group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The U.S. is hosting the tournament with Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

FIFA said Tuesday night (March 10, 2026) that it anticipates Iran’s national team will be allowed to come to the United States.

Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said “I really don’t care” if Iran takes part in the 48-nation tournament.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he met with Trump on Tuesday night (March 10, 2026) “to discuss the status of preparations” for the tournament and received assurances that Iran would be permitted to come to the U.S.