During the week, Iranian coach Ghalenoei had vented in a press conference: “They promised us 24 hours before each match, this time they gave us less than 16. We had to interrupt training halfway. These limitations have made everything very difficult,” and then it becomes movement, checks, paperwork, Taremi and the others going through it every time they travel for World Cup matches. Now a little looser.
United States authorities easing parts of the security measures for players from a country they were at war with only days ago, entry from Tijuana two days before the next match, Department of Homeland Security confirming it on Tuesday, exit still fixed for Friday in Seattle. Iran Football Federation, Wednesday departure from the Tijuana camp into Washington State. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, speaking to the Associated Press, a system already there, first two movements reviewed, extra day only if nothing went wrong, distance taken into account, nothing added afterwards.
Washington and Tehran in talks meanwhile, different rooms, same stretch of days. From the start Iran have complained about travel restrictions, logistics tightening around them, asking to be based in Mexico first, then the move from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, some staff stopped at entry points, some never making it through. Los Angeles, arrivals the day before kick-off, again.
One day before matches the norm. Two only in exceptional cases. Iran asking for more time, recovery, adjustment, Seattle almost 2,000 kilometres away, training Thursday at the University of Washington already set. Alireza Jahanbakhsh: “We are not asking for much, just the same conditions granted to the other 47 teams.” Crossings between Tijuana and Los Angeles slow, heavy, checks repeating without order. Taremi talking about a short flight becoming five hours before New Zealand.
Before Belgium, tension again. Senator Markwayne Mullin on Fox News, allegations around members of the delegation, attempt to bring into the country a person with supposed links to the Revolutionary Guard. The Iranian Football Federation rejecting it outright, calling it “an obvious and unacceptable lie.” Egypt in the background, 3–1 over New Zealand in Vancouver, request for a direct flight to Seattle denied by FIFA citing security resources, return instead to Spokane, Washington State, forty-five minutes by air, close, almost incidental.