Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei (left) walks off the pitch after the Fifa World Cup Group G match between Iran and New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, US, on June 15, 2026. — AFP
LOS ANGELES: Coach Amir Ghalenoei stated Iran is the “most oppressed team in the World Cup” after his gamers have been out of the blue knowledgeable they need to journey again to Mexico instantly after their opening sport led to Los Angeles late Monday.
It’s the newest logistical nightmare for an Iran squad that arrived on the match being co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada underneath the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington.
The US — which was in navy battle with Iran for months, till a peace deal was introduced on Sunday — refused to challenge visas for some group assist employees, and supplied journey paperwork to gamers solely on the final minute.
The group was initially aspiring to base its coaching camp in Tucson, Arizona however moved it on the eleventh hour to Tijuana in Mexico because of the visa and logistical points.
“They delayed our arrivals, (now) they are forcing us to go back early without time for recovery,” Ghalenoei instructed journalists following a 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
“They are making the situation more and more difficult, facing us with more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best.”
In keeping with Ghalenoei, his group had beforehand been instructed they’d have the ability to stay in the US till Tuesday lunchtime “to recover.”
“But again they haven’t permitted us,” he stated.
“To be honest, I have no idea why they haven’t told us.”
The coach stated technical employees had been pressured to tackle managerial duties to the absence of key personnel.
“That’s why I think we are the most oppressed team in the World Cup,” he stated.
Iran performed their opener towards New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, only a day after a peace deal between the US and Iran was introduced, bringing an “immediate and permanent” finish to miltary operations on all fronts.
Their star strike Mehdi Taremi additionally slammed his group’s remedy on the match as a “disaster” after the sport.
“It’s a lot of stress for the players and staffs and everyone, but we don’t have that support, and I think Fifa have to help us more than this,” he instructed reporters.
He added: “Everything is like disaster, actually, for us.”
Taremi stated the primary the gamers had learnt they’d be leaving the US on Monday was on match day.
“We are just tired of this situation, because from two months ago, last month, we’re having a lot of problems, you know?
“It is so unhealthy, and it impacts our group. We simply need the peace, which is the centres of Fifa, ‘peace, pleasure,’ and people issues.”
Taremi said Fifa president Gianni Infantino had been in the Iran changing room discussing the issue.
“He needs to attempt to assist us, however it’s about different issues too,” he stated.
