The Department of Homeland Security is “changing the guidelines for Iran’s national soccer team ahead of its third World Cup match on Friday to accommodate extra time afforded to other countries in the tournament,” according to Alba & Cohen of NBCNEWS.com. The team will now be allowed to travel to Seattle “two days before their game, allowing for an extra day beyond the 24-hour window” given to Iran for its first two games. But the team will “still be asked to depart for its home base in Tijuana, Mexico, after the match wraps up.” The shift comes as the Iranian soccer federation lodged an official complaint with FIFA over its treatment in the U.S. so far. The other 47 teams have been able to “travel to matches earlier and stay afterward for recovery time if they prefer” (NBCNEWS.com, 6/23). White House World Cup Task Force Exec Dir Andrew Giuliani said the change was “planned on our end.” Giuliani: “We were going to look at how the first two movements went, and if they went smoothly, we would extend the extra day in light of the longer travel time.” The AP’s Angueira & Kim note it is “unclear whether Iran’s upcoming opponent, Egypt, will also be allowed to arrive in Seattle two days early.” After its game in Vancouver on Sunday, Egypt “asked to fly directly to Seattle,” but FIFA “denied that request” (AP, 6/23).
Iran allowed to enter U.S. earlier for third World Cup match
