Iranian Fans' Guide to US Sports

For Iranian passport holders, a trip to watch live sport in the United States begins and ends with the visa, and the honest answer is that it is difficult. This guide sets out the realities rather than glossing them, and it is written as much for the Iranian diaspora in Europe, Canada and the US — who can travel far more easily — as for anyone applying from Iran.

Beyond the paperwork, it covers the practical side: routes and connections, halal food near the big stadiums, getting around car-dependent US cities, and what to expect on a game day.

Which Sport to Go and See

The United States runs five major spectator sports, and which one you can see depends entirely on when you visit.

• College football (late August to early January) is the one most visitors underestimate. Crowds of 100,000 are normal at the biggest programmes, the atmosphere is closer to a derby than anything in US pro sport, and tickets are cheap by comparison.
• NFL (September to February) is the hardest ticket and the biggest occasion. Only nine home games a season, so plan around a specific team's schedule.
• MLB (April to October) is the easiest to see on short notice — 81 home games a season means tickets are cheap and available almost any day of the week in summer.
• NBA and NHL (October to June) are indoor, weatherproof, and the best option for a winter trip. Many arenas host both.

If you are building a trip around it, our schedule pages show every away game for a given team with flights, hotels and tickets for those dates, and the stadium guides cover getting in, where to sit, and what you cannot bring through the gate.

Entry Requirements

Note: The information below was written before Iran's Sports Ministry banned teams from competing in hostile countries. It is preserved for reference but is likely no longer actionable for most Iranian fans planning to attend Team Melli games.

This is the most critical section in this guide. Read it completely before making any travel plans or financial commitments.

The travel ban (USA)

As of January 1, 2026, Iran is on the Presidential Proclamation 10998 full suspension list. This is the strictest category. All US visa issuance to Iranian nationals has been fully suspended — including B1/B2 tourist visas. No US embassy or consulate worldwide is processing new visa applications from Iranian citizens.

The bottom line: If you are an Iranian citizen and do not already hold a valid US visa, you cannot currently enter the USA. There is no US embassy in Iran. Before the suspension, Iranians applied at embassies in Turkey, the UAE, Armenia, or Azerbaijan. Those third-country embassies are also not processing Iranian applications under the proclamation.

** The State Department plans to exempt players, coaches, support staff, and their immediate families. No exemption for fans has been announced as of March 2026. Do not book flights or accommodation based on the hope of an exemption that may never come.

** It is a scheduling tool, not a visa.

If you already have a valid B1/B2 visa

If you were issued a B1/B2 visa before January 1, 2026, and it has not expired, you can still use it to enter the USA. Check your visa validity dates and ensure your passport is valid through at least December 2026. If your visa is in an old passport, carry both the old passport (with the visa) and your current passport.

Critical warning for pre-ban visa holders: Even with a valid visa, the current environment at US airports is dangerous for travelers from banned countries. ICE agents have been deployed to approximately 14 airports since March 24, 2026, and enforcement has been unusually aggressive — two US citizens were killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis in January 2026. If you travel on a pre-ban visa, carry all documentation on your person at all times: passport, visa, return ticket, hotel confirmation, and match tickets. Do not pack these in checked luggage. Consider consulting an immigration attorney before traveling to understand your rights at the border.

Dual nationals — this is complicated

Many Iranian fans live outside Iran and hold second passports. The situation for dual nationals is uncertain and you should consult an immigration attorney before making travel plans. Here is what we know:

• Under the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act, anyone who has traveled to Iran since March 2011, or who holds dual Iranian nationality, is ineligible for ESTA regardless of their other passport. Normally, this means applying for a B1/B2 visa on your non-Iranian passport instead.
• The open question: It is unclear whether PP 10998's full suspension of Iranian visa issuance also blocks B1/B2 applications from dual nationals applying on their non-Iranian passport. The proclamation targets "nationals of Iran," and dual nationals are still Iranian nationals. Some immigration attorneys argue the suspension applies; others disagree. There is no official guidance as of March 2026.
• If you hold an EU, Canadian, Australian, or other VWP passport and have never visited Iran since 2011, and do not hold Iranian nationality: You may still be eligible for ESTA. Check carefully.
• If you hold dual Iranian nationality with any country: Do not assume you can enter the US. Get legal advice specific to your situation before booking anything.

The only exception to the ESTA restriction is travelers who visited Iran for diplomatic or military purposes on behalf of a VWP country.

For the Iranian diaspora in the US

If you are a US citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid US work or student visa, you need no additional documentation. Bring valid government-issued ID to the stadium. The Greater LA Iranian community — one of the largest outside Iran — will turn the SoFi games into something close to a home game.

Consider the realistic alternatives

If you do not have a valid US visa and cannot resolve the dual-national question, the honest advice is: do not count on attending games in person. Instead, consider:

• Watching from Tehrangeles. If you are already in the US legally, the Westwood community in Los Angeles will host massive viewing events with Persian food, music, and atmosphere that rivals being in the stadium.

Getting There

Note: Flight route information below was written before the current conflict. Iranian airspace is closed and many routes described here are no longer operational. Iranian diaspora fans already in North America should plan travel based on their current location.

From Iran: There are no direct flights from Tehran (IKA) to any US city. You will connect through a hub:

• Via Istanbul (IST): Turkish Airlines flies Tehran to Istanbul (about 3.5 hours), with onward connections to Los Angeles (LAX, about 13 hours). This is the most common routing.
• Via Doha (DOH): Qatar Airways flies Tehran to Doha (about 2 hours), with connections to Los Angeles (about 16 hours).
• Via Dubai (DXB): Emirates flies Tehran to Dubai (about 2 hours), with connections to LAX (about 16 hours).

For the return from Seattle: Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Emirates all serve Seattle (SEA) with one-stop connections back to Tehran.

Open-jaw recommendation: Fly into LAX for the first two games, fly home from SEA after the third. Saves backtracking.

5-hour flight. Alaska Airlines, Delta, United, and Southwest serve this route frequently.

Book as early as possible. Fares purchased now are likely to be significantly cheaper than last-minute prices. Search flights to Los Angeles (LAX) -> | Search flights to Seattle (SEA) ->

Getting Around

Los Angeles: SoFi Stadium is in Inglewood, about 15 miles southwest of downtown LA. The LA Metro K Line (Pink) stops at Downtown Inglewood station, roughly a 34-minute walk from SoFi — too far to walk comfortably after a match. The better transit option is the C Line (Green) to Hawthorne/Lennox station, from which LA Metro runs a free shuttle directly to SoFi on event days. On game days, expect dedicated shuttle services. Uber and Lyft work well but expect surge pricing around the stadium. LA is a car-dependent city. If you plan to explore between games, consider renting one.

Seattle: Lumen Field is in the SoDo district, a short walk from the Stadium light rail station on the 1 Line. From Sea-Tac Airport, the light rail runs directly downtown in about 40 minutes. Seattle is walkable in the city center. Uber and Lyft are widely available. You do not need a car.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) paired with your Iranian licence is recommended if you rent a car. You drive on the right, same as Iran.

Money, Phones, and Essentials

Currency: US Dollar everywhere. Iranian Rial is not convertible at US banks or exchange offices. Bring US dollars in cash or use a non-Iranian bank card. Due to international sanctions, Iranian bank cards (issued by Iranian banks) will not work in the US. If you have a bank account in Turkey, the UAE, or another country, use that card. A multi-currency card (Wise, Revolut) opened through a non-Iranian address avoids transaction fees.

Sales tax: Prices do not include tax. In California (LA), sales tax is about 10.25%. In Washington (Seattle), about 10.25%. Budget accordingly.

Tipping: Mandatory in the US. At restaurants, 18-20% of the bill. At bars, $1-2 per drink. For Uber/Lyft, 15-20%. Not tipping is considered extremely rude.

Phone: Iranian SIM cards may have limited or no roaming in the US. Buy a prepaid US SIM at the airport from T-Mobile ($30-40 USD for a few weeks of data). eSIM services like Airalo also work. Download offline maps before you go.

Plugs: The US uses Type A/B plugs (two flat pins), 120V. Iranian plugs (Type C/F, 220V) will not fit. Bring an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers auto-switch voltage.

Halal food: Los Angeles has extensive halal dining options, particularly in the Westwood ("Tehrangeles") area, which has one of the largest Iranian communities outside Iran. You will find Persian restaurants, halal butchers, and familiar food throughout the Westwood/Sawtelle corridor. Seattle has halal restaurants in the University District and along Rainier Avenue. Download the Zabihah app for halal restaurant listings.

Healthcare: There is no public healthcare for visitors in the US. An emergency room visit can cost thousands of dollars. Buy travel insurance before you leave. This is not optional. Due to sanctions, purchase travel insurance through a non-Iranian provider.

Food and Drink Costs

• Coffee: $5-8 USD
• Casual lunch: $15-22 USD
• Sit-down dinner (no drinks): $35-55 USD
• Dinner with drinks: $55-85 USD
• Beer at a bar: $8-14 USD

Los Angeles is expensive. Seattle is slightly less so. Portions are large.

Persian food in LA: Westwood has dozens of Persian restaurants serving chelo kabab, ghormeh sabzi, tahdig, and more. Expect $20-35 for a full meal.

Halal Food & Travel Tips

Los Angeles / Inglewood: Easy. Inglewood (where SoFi Stadium is) has a notable concentration of halal restaurants due to its Somali and Middle Eastern communities. Banadir Somali Restaurant is an Inglewood institution. Al Hamra Kabob Grill, Mutiara Food & Market (Indonesian halal), Hashim's Grill, and Kuku Cafe (Persian) are all in the immediate area — walkable or a short rideshare from SoFi. Westwood / "Tehrangeles" near UCLA has many Persian and Middle Eastern halal restaurants, though LA traffic makes it impractical on game days.

Seattle: Moderate to easy. The Halal Guys in Pioneer Square is a short walk from Lumen Field. Rainier Valley (15–20 minutes south) has Mama Sambusa Kitchen and other Somali restaurants. Capitol Hill has Cafe Turko (Turkish), Halal Smash BRGR, and Spice Waala (Indian).

Prayer spaces: LA has mosques across the metro area including near Inglewood. Seattle has mosques in Rainier Valley and Capitol Hill. Use Zabihah or Muslim Pro for locations.

Weather

Los Angeles: Warm and dry. Expect 22-28C (72-82F). SoFi Stadium has a roof canopy but open sides, keeping conditions comfortable inside.

Seattle: Mild. Expect 18-25C (64-77F). Lumen Field is open-air. Seattle summers are mild with low humidity. Bring a light layer for after the game.

Both cities will feel drier and cooler than Tehran in summer.

Fan Culture Differences

SoFi Stadium has large lots that will host pre-match gatherings. Bring your flags and join in.

Stadium rules: Strict clear bag policy at all venues. Only transparent bags smaller than 30x15x30 cm (12x6x12 inches) are permitted. No flares, no pyrotechnics, no smoke bombs. Leave your regular bag at the hotel. Security checks are thorough.

The LA area has a massive Iranian diaspora community that will turn out in force. Expect strong Team Melli support at both SoFi games.

Time Zones

Iran observes Iran Daylight Time (IRDT, UTC+4:30) during summer. The US Pacific coast is on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC-7). Iran is 11 hours and 30 minutes ahead of the US West Coast.

The other two games fall in the early morning hours.

5-hour time difference is significant. Flying west stretches your day, which is generally easier than flying east.