Iran have claimed they were forced out of the United States just minutes after their match against New Zealand concluded, with coach Amir Ghalenoei saying his team are the “most oppressed” at the World Cup.
The team’s build-up to the finals has been profoundly impacted by the conflict between Iran and the United States. The squad was forced to move their training camp to Mexico, with the Trump administration only allowing them into the country on matchdays.
They opened their World Cup with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand, roared on by a passionate Iranian-American crowd.
Coach Ghalenoei welcomed the fans’ support, but said it had not been matched by those responsible for managing the team’s movements in what is believed to be a strong criticism of the US authorities.
“We’ve spent so much time commuting in the air,” he said.
“They didn’t even give us time to recover after the game today. They said we had to leave immediately.
“It’s very important for us to have time for recovery and yet we were asked to return to Tijuana and we are really troubled by that.
“We do not know why they are returning us. I think it’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us, decisions are made elsewhere, we were supposed to arrive two nights before the game and we were not permitted, we were supposed to stay tonight and return tomorrow lunchtime but I have no idea why, and they haven’t told us.
“Our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup.
“The federation is absent here. Our media isn’t here. Our management team, many of them aren’t here. We used to have a part of a coaching team to help with substitutions but we didn’t have that. Many in the technical area had to deal with that.”
Fifa was approached for comment regarding the team’s schedule.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi described their treatment as a “disaster” and revealed Fifa president Gianni Infantino had been in the dressing room, offering to “help” the team.
“Still we have some problems because we are supposed to be training tomorrow morning – recovery – then leave for Tijuana,” he said.
“But we have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it’s not good for us. It’s not good for the football, because in World Cup, you have to prepare good for the next game.
“Because it is a lot of stress for the players and the staff and everyone. But we don’t have that support and I think Fifa have to help us more than this.”
Footage of Infantino published on X sees him telling the players “you are stronger than everything”, “this is just the beginning” adding that the team were “writing history, the whole world is watching you”.
Infantino is also understood to have told the players he would do what he could to ensure more of the Iranian delegation, who did not receive visas, could travel to the USA for their remaining group games.
Taremi added: “We don’t have our President, and no one from staff, also, which is so important for us. Our manager, for example, has come here doing the job of the media, and you know everything is like a disaster for us.”
PA
