Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has criticised FIFA and tournament organisers after claiming his team was forced to leave the United States immediately following their 2-2 draw against New Zealand in a FIFA World Cup Group G match.
Speaking after the match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Ghalenoei revealed that Iran had initially been informed they could remain in the United States until Tuesday afternoon before returning to their training base in Tijuana, Mexico. However, he said the plans were abruptly changed after the final whistle.
“After the game they said to us, ‘you have to leave immediately’. We’ve been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that,” Ghalenoei told reporters.
The Iranian coach argued that the unexpected travel arrangements had added further challenges for his squad, which he believes has already faced several obstacles during its World Cup campaign.
“They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult, creating more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best,” he said.
Ghalenoei also claimed Iran’s preparations for the tournament had been disrupted even before their opening match.
“We were supposed to arrive two nights before the game, but they didn’t permit it. We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return at lunchtime. I think our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup. Our federation isn’t here, our media isn’t here, our management isn’t here,” he added.
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Star striker Mehdi Taremi echoed his coach’s concerns, describing the situation as a “disaster” for the players and staff.
“It’s a lot of stress for the players and staff. We are tired of this situation. It’s so bad and it affects our team,” Taremi said.
Iran’s participation in the tournament has been overshadowed by uncertainty amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and related security concerns.
Meanwhile, FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited the Iranian dressing room following the draw with New Zealand and held discussions with members of the team.
Iran’s travel issues may continue during the group stage, with their next match against Belgium also scheduled to be played at SoFi Stadium on Sunday. The team is expected to travel back to the United States later this week before returning to Los Angeles for the fixture.