[91271] Preparation storm in the Iranian national team ahead of the meeting against Belgium in the 2026 World Cup

Diplomatic-sports tension ahead of Iran-Belgium

Ahead of the Iranian national team's second match in the 2026 World Cup against Belgium, which will be held on Sunday, June 21, at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, a harsh claim is rising from Iranian officials regarding the conduct of the US authorities. According to the Iranian Football Federation, as reported in Akharin Khabar, the team is forced to arrive in the host city only 24 hours before the scheduled time, contrary to the FIFA protocol that mandates arrival two days in advance.

Hedayat Mombeini, Secretary-General of the Iranian Football Federation, attacked the situation and called it "unprecedented" in the history of the World Cup. In an interview with IRNA, Iran's state news agency, Mombeini claimed that: "This is an unfair situation and a stain on football," adding that Iran, possessing a "2,500-year-old civilization," knows how to respect international laws and expects the host to do the same. Daneshjoo News Agency quoted him as saying that "breaking laws and regulations casts doubt on the integrity of the game."

Meanwhile, the Iranian team held its final training session in the city of Tijuana, Mexico, with the participation of the Federation President Mehdi Taj. According to the Senior Football Channel, the training took place in a positive atmosphere with the support of local fans, despite the logistical difficulties.

Iran International, a media outlet identified with the Iranian opposition in exile, presents the coverage from a purely sports angle, focusing on the audience's expectations for the match against Belgium and inviting users to bet on the match result. Reports from state officials in Iran, by contrast, place great emphasis on the diplomatic and international difficulty as part of a narrative of discrimination against the team.