The United States has eased travel restrictions on Iran’s World Cup team, allowing the squad to enter the country two days before its next tournament match, a move that officials say follows a review of security arrangements and travel procedures.

The decision was announced by the US Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday and comes as Iran prepares for its final group-stage fixture against Egypt in Seattle on Friday. Despite the adjustment, Iranian players and staff will still be required to leave the United States after the match.

Iran’s Football Federation confirmed that the team would depart its base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, on Wednesday and travel to Seattle, where it is scheduled to train at the University of Washington on Thursday.

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said the easing of restrictions had been anticipated from the outset.

“This was planned on our end,” Giuliani told The Associated Press. He explained that officials intended to evaluate the team’s first two cross-border movements before deciding whether additional travel flexibility could be granted.

The change follows complaints from Iranian officials and players about the travel arrangements imposed since the start of the tournament. Iran had originally requested that its group-stage matches be moved to Mexico, citing difficulties linked to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. While that request was not approved, FIFA allowed the team to establish its base camp in Tijuana rather than Tucson, Arizona.

For Iran’s first two matches near Los Angeles, players were only permitted to travel into the United States the day before kick-off. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei argued that the arrangement placed his team at a disadvantage, particularly ahead of Sunday’s goalless draw with Belgium.

“Right now we need recovery more than anything,” Ghalenoei said after the match, noting that the conditions had been challenging for the squad.

Team captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh also called for equal treatment, saying Iran was seeking the same procedures available to other participating nations.

The Iranian team has reported difficulties crossing the border between Mexico and the United States. Captain Mehdi Taremi said a normally short flight between Tijuana and Los Angeles took several hours ahead of the team’s opening match against New Zealand.

Tensions also emerged after US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin alleged that an individual with ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had attempted to enter the United States with the delegation. Iran’s Football Federation strongly denied the claim, describing it as false.

While Iranian players have largely avoided commenting directly on the conflict in the Middle East, they have made symbolic gestures during the tournament, including wearing pins commemorating victims of a missile strike that occurred earlier this year.

It remains unclear whether Egypt, Iran’s upcoming opponent, will receive similar travel accommodations ahead of Friday’s match in Seattle.

Honduras is preparing to acquire drone systems from Ukraine as part of a broader push to strengthen border security and combat drug trafficking networks, President Nasry Asfura said on Monday. The move comes as the Central American nation continues to face high levels of gang violence and organised crime linked to narcotics routes.

Asfura confirmed the plan after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv last week, where the two leaders discussed potential cooperation in defence technology. Ukraine, which has developed extensive expertise in drone warfare during its ongoing conflict with Russia, has been seeking to expand international partnerships in military and security sectors.

Speaking to AFP in Panama City during the General Assembly of the Organization of American States, Asfura said the technology could play a key role in monitoring remote areas and improving law enforcement capabilities. He described drones as a practical tool for “efficiently guarding our borders” and strengthening the fight against organised crime.

He added that Ukraine’s experience could provide valuable support for Honduras, stating that the partnership could help the country “further secure our borders and fight drug trafficking,” which he described as a matter of national security.

Zelenskyy, for his part, highlighted Ukraine’s growing role in advanced military technology, particularly unmanned systems. He said Ukraine has become “one of the strongest in the world” in drone development, noting its importance in surveillance and operational defence. He also indicated that such expertise could be shared with partners interested in modern security tools.

Honduras has long been positioned along key cocaine trafficking routes from South America to North America, making it a strategic transit point for criminal organisations. In recent years, authorities have also reported increased signs of domestic coca cultivation and cocaine processing, raising concerns that the country may be shifting from a transit hub to a production zone.

The security situation is further complicated by the presence of powerful gangs such as MS-13 and Barrio 18, both linked to extortion, territorial disputes and violent crime. The country’s homicide rate stands at approximately 24 per 100,000 people, significantly above the global average.

Recent incidents have underscored the scale of the challenge. In one attack last month, 19 people were killed in a region affected by disputes over drug routes, while five police officers died near the border with Guatemala in a suspected ambush by traffickers.

The proposed drone acquisition is part of wider efforts by Honduras to strengthen international security cooperation. Officials have also been in discussions with the United States on joint anti-crime operations. Asfura said the Ukrainian technology could also be adapted for civilian uses, including agricultural monitoring, alongside its security applications.

Qatar’s Interior Ministry says search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate close to two dozen people still missing after a major explosion struck the country’s main energy infrastructure, raising fresh concerns over regional energy stability.

The blast occurred on Sunday night at the Barzan gas supply facility in the Ras Laffan industrial area, a critical hub for Qatar’s natural gas exports. According to state-run QatarEnergy, the incident happened as workers were attempting to resume operations at the site following earlier disruptions linked to the wider regional conflict.

Authorities said at least 54 people were injured in the explosion and subsequent fire, while 18 others remain unaccounted for. Initial reports had suggested only minor injuries, but casualty figures were revised upward as emergency teams assessed the extent of the damage.

The Interior Ministry said rescue operations are ongoing and all available resources have been deployed to locate those missing. Officials have not yet confirmed the cause of the explosion, though QatarEnergy described it as occurring during operational restart procedures at the facility.

The Barzan plant plays a significant role in Qatar’s domestic energy supply, with a production capacity of nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. The output is primarily used to support electricity generation and desalination plants, which are essential for water supply across the arid Gulf state. QatarEnergy holds the majority stake in the project, with ExxonMobil also owning a minority share.

The explosion comes at a sensitive moment for Qatar’s energy sector. The country, one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas, had recently paused parts of its production due to instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global energy supplies. Shipping disruptions had limited exports, prompting gradual efforts to restart operations as tensions showed signs of easing.

Qatar has already experienced direct damage to its energy infrastructure during the regional conflict. In March, an Iranian missile reportedly struck facilities in Ras Laffan, causing significant damage and forcing partial shutdowns. While production had been halted at affected sites, the latest incident raises further concerns over the safety of restarting operations in a volatile environment.

Qatar shares the North Field gas reservoir with Iran, making energy infrastructure in the region strategically significant for both countries. The wealth generated from its gas exports has allowed Qatar to expand its global influence, invest heavily abroad, and position itself as a diplomatic mediator in international conflicts.

As investigations continue, the explosion is expected to heighten scrutiny over energy security in the Gulf, particularly at a time when global gas markets remain sensitive to supply disruptions.