Starting tough, Iran’s World Cup journey unfolds this week as the football federation reveals match dates. Though athletes cleared visa hurdles for games in Los Angeles and Seattle, travel access remains blocked for some staff tied to the squad. The U.S. gates open partially, players walk through, and others stay behind. Challenges mount before a single whistle blows.

Days before Thursday’s first game, tensions surfaced. Hosted across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, the tournament places all of Iran’s group games inside American borders. Still, the squad decided to stay rooted in Tijuana, a city south of the border. From there, they’ll travel north for each match, keeping camp grounded in Mexican soil.

Visa issues overshadow preparations for Iran

"In accordance with FIFA's programme, the team delegation will travel to the United States on a charter flight," Iranian federation spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi said in a statement carried by ISNA. He added that Iran would arrive in the host city one day before its opening match against New Zealand and two days before each of its remaining group-stage fixtures.

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Meanwhile, Iran's Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali warned against the display of unauthorised symbols or slogans during matches. "If, in the stadiums where we play, we see any flag or symbol other than that of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or if norm-breaking slogans are chanted, the team official will certainly have a duty to stop the match," he told IRNA. He added that tournament organisers would be responsible for addressing such situations.

Iran's World Cup preparations have been complicated by visa-related difficulties, with Tehran claiming that around 15 administrative and management personnel from its delegation have been unable to obtain entry into the United States.

Iran will open its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. The team will then face Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 before concluding its group-stage campaign against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.