US refuses to ease Iran World Cup travel restrictions for Belgium match

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the tournament, confirmed that Iran's team must adhere to strict travel rules. They can only travel to match venues within 24 hours of kickoff and must return to their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, immediately after each game.

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei described his team as "the most oppressed team in the whole World Cup." After their first match against New Zealand, the Iranian delegation left the US within hours, without a chance to recover at a hotel.

An issue with winger Mehdi Torabi's visa, which expired after the first game, has been resolved, with the US State Department issuing him a new multiple-entry visa.

Giuliani noted the situation is dynamic and that decisions for the third match against Egypt in Seattle will be made after the Belgium game. He defended the measures, saying the shift of the team's training base from Tucson to Tijuana reduced travel time.

No credible threats to the tournament have been identified, but intelligence agencies remain vigilant. All players and coaches have received visas, though some team officials were denied due to derogatory information.