Iran's World Cup coach says his team was ordered to leave the US and return to their training base in Mexico only a few hours after opening their politically charged tournament with a 2-2 draw to New Zealand.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei didn't say who ordered the Iranians to leave earlier than planned.
The team had been expected to spend the night in California to maximise the normal recovery process after their opening game, only to be told after the match everyone had to immediately get on a plane for the trip back to Tijuana.
"They didn't even give us time to recover," Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. "After the game today, they said to us, 'You have to leave immediately.'
