India, June 19 -- Iran's football federation has stated that they will lodge an official protest with FIFA af the US reportedly denied the national team's request to travel to Los Angeles two days before their FIFA World Cup Group G match against Belgium. Iran had a positive start in their World Cup campaign with a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in Group G in Los Angeles.

The Iranian players had to leave Los Angeles within three hours after the match, travelling to their training base in Mexico due to US travel restrictions.

Ahead of their match against Belgium, the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation said, "The football federation of Iran believes that such restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditi...