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The Iranian team’s trip to Seattle was delayed by 25 minutes when Taremi and Alhoei were suspended for unknown reasons.
Updated on 24 Jun 2026
Iran’s soccer federation said its star player Mehdi Taremi and assistant coach Saeed Alhoei were detained by US authorities as the team left Mexico for their final World Cup match in Seattle.
Officials “caused problems” for the pair, delaying their delegation as they traveled to the US for their match against Egypt, FFIRI announced on Wednesday.
“On the third trip of the national team to the United States, the host officials interfered with Saeed Alhoei and Mehdi Taremi, delaying the trip to Seattle to play Egypt,” he said.
Although the agency did not specify the reasons for the standoff and whether Taremi and Alhoei were interviewed, it confirmed that they both joined the delegation 25 minutes later and flew with them to Seattle.
The Iranian team and supporters stayed in Tijuana, Mexico, as they arrived at the World Cup amid the US-Israeli war against their country.
Their delegation has traveled to the US twice, arriving a day before the match and leaving just after the full-time whistle. Both games were held in Los Angeles, California, and the third will be played on the US West Coast, in Seattle, Washington.
The move came a day after US officials eased travel restrictions on Iran for the World Cup, allowing them to travel to Seattle two days before the games but forcing them to leave afterwards.
Iranian players and sports officials criticized the American players’ treatment of Team Melli, who had to set up camp in Mexico while playing three of the team’s games on the US West Coast.
US officials have said their sanctions against Iran are based on security, without giving details on how the presence of world-renowned players could harm anyone.
