Iran to lodge complaint over travel restrictions

Iran's involvement in the World Cup has been plagued with uncertainty, linked to the war in the Middle East and related security concerns. Fifa president Gianni Infantino visited the Iran team in the dressing room following the game against New Zealand as tensions continue. Multiple "integral" members of their backroom staff were denied entry visas for the US while the FFIRI called on Fifa to "uphold the principles of neutrality, fairness, and established regulations" after their allocation of tickets was revoked on the eve of the tournament. "The Iranian national football team agreed to these terms," a US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told the BBC when asked for a response to Ghalenoei's comments. The BBC has contacted the DHS for a response to Iran's plans to complain. Iran, who switched their base for the World Cup from Arizona in the US to Tijuana in Mexico amid the conflict in the Middle East, have two group games remaining and both are in the US. They face Belgium in Los Angeles on 21 June (20:00 BST) and Egypt in Seattle on 27 June (04:00 BST). Iran said they "needed to arrive in each host city two days before every match and return to its base camp the day after the game in order to achieve optimal technical and physical preparation" but "this request was not approved" for their game against New Zealand. "The same situation has now been repeated ahead of Iran's second match against Belgium," added the FFIRI. …