Iran’s Ali Nemati celebrates after scoring a objective that was later disallowed in Fifa World Cup 2026 Group G match towards New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, California, US, June 15, 2026. — Reuters
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei mentioned he has been informed US journey restrictions on his World Cup staff will lastly be eased for his or her third group sport, however blasted the remedy they’ve obtained to date for damaging their on-field efficiency.
The Iranian squad arrived on the World Cup with their nation nonetheless at conflict with co-hosts america, and have been based mostly in Mexico whereas taking part in all their video games within the US.
That has required frequent cross-border journey, and US authorities have solely permitted the staff to stay within the nation for a number of hours after every sport, with restrictions ceaselessly shifting last-minute.
After taking part in Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday, Iran’s remaining group sport will happen in Seattle subsequent Friday towards Egypt.
Ghalenoei on Saturday mentioned he had been informed his staff may have extra flexibility for his or her remaining match, earlier than rapidly including that it will have been “justice” for his staff to have the identical remedy for its first two video games.
“They said in Seattle, you can do what you want, you can act the way you want to, and you can come earlier,” he informed a press convention, with out specifying who precisely the knowledge had come from.
“But what I want, my problem is, why didn’t they let us come earlier for the first two games as well?
“I simply know for the final sport, sure, they’ve allowed us to determine, to make our personal choices as regards to planning the journey.
“But unfortunately, for the first two games, others made these travel arrangements for us, and the timing for us.”
Final week Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand, the event’s lowest-ranked staff, with sloppy defending twice permitting the All Whites to go forward earlier than Workforce Melli equalised.
“There were errors, individual ones, and also with regards to this defense we had, and I think we were playing… we were doing too many passes,” mentioned Ghalenoei.
“And I think, because we have been flying too much, commuting, as a result of this long commute, we’ve been tired.”
The supervisor mentioned restrictions on his staff had been much more onerous for Sunday’s upcoming sport towards Belgium, Group G’s highest-ranked staff.
Ghalenoei mentioned his staff had arrived within the US on Saturday lower than 24 hours earlier than kickoff, regardless of being briefly informed by FIFA on Friday early afternoon that they can journey that day.
“We waited till 7pm, nothing happened, and they said, ‘Sorry, we weren’t able to do that,” mentioned the coach.
“That’s going to affect us mentally, especially me as a head coach, because I want to focus on technical stuff,” he mentioned.
Iran had solely been in a position to do half its common pre-game coaching session, complained Ghalenoei.
All 4 groups in Group G presently have one level, with solely the highest two assured to achieve the knockout phases. A majority of third-placed groups throughout all teams will even progress, relying on their efficiency.
