Iran's national football team faces logistical and diplomatic challenges at the upcoming World Cup, including travel restrictions for Iranian nationals to the U.S. and an exhausting schedule for matches on American soil after FIFA rejected a request to relocate games to Canada or Mexico.

The Jerusalem Post

Axios

The U.S.-Iran war is forcing FIFA to navigate a diplomatic and logistical mess before the World Cup even kicks off Thursday.
Why it matters: Iranians are largely banned from traveling to the U.S. right now, while Iran's national team will face an exhausting itinerary each time it plays on U.S. soil.

Zoom in: Iran has three guaranteed matches on U.S. soil in the group stage after FIFA declined the nation's request to move its games to stadiums in Canada or Mexico after the war started.

Without 