Iran National Team delayed at airport over alleged US harassment of captain Mehdi Taremi and assistant manager Saeed Alhoei

The Iran Football Federation has accused U.S. authorities of harassing key members of the national team, causing a significant delay in their departure for an international friendly against Egypt.

Repeated Delays for Iran Squad

According to an official statement from the Iran Football Federation, the team—preparing for their third trip to the United States—was held up at the airport once again. The federation titled the announcement: “Harassment of Taremi and Alhoei at the Airport Again; Iran National Team Delayed.”

The statement reads: “While Iran’s national team is traveling to the United States for the third time, the team has once again been delayed at the airport due to issues caused by U.S. authorities. The members of Iran’s national football team arrived at the airport earlier today for their trip to face Egypt, but as on previous occasions, interference by the host nation involving Saeed Alhoei and Mehdi Taremi has caused the team to be delayed at the airport.”

The rest of the squad is reportedly waiting for captain Mehdi Taremi and assistant manager Saeed Alhoei before flying to Seattle for the upcoming match.

Iran claiming they’ve been delayed at airport due to “harassment” by US authorities of captain Mehdi Taremi and assistant manager Saeed Alhoei

Iran Football Federation said under the title “Harassment of Taremi and Alhoei at the Airport Again; Iran National Team Delayed”:…

— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) June 24, 2026

Background on the Incident

This is not the first time Iran has reported travel complications when heading to the U.S. The federation highlighted that similar “interference” has occurred on previous occasions. Mehdi Taremi, a star striker and captain, and Saeed Alhoei appear to be the focal points of the reported checks or delays.

The Iran national team is scheduled to play Egypt in Seattle as part of their international preparations. Fans and followers are now closely monitoring updates on whether the full squad will depart on time.

What This Means for Iran vs Egypt Match

Delays of this nature can impact team morale, recovery, and preparation time ahead of important fixtures. As one of Asia’s strongest football sides, Iran will be keen to resolve the situation quickly and focus on the game against a competitive Egyptian team.