Iran's head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, has claimed his team is 'the most oppressed' at the World Cup after being told to leave Los Angeles immediately following their 2-2 draw against New Zealand on Monday night.
Iranian Players Express Frustration
Captain Mehdi Taremi and midfielder Mohammad Mohebi joined Ghalenoei in criticizing Fifa, hinting at resentment toward the US government. Taremi said 'everything is like disaster for us' and revealed that Fifa president Gianni Infantino visited the dressing room, where they voiced their concerns directly.
'After the game today they said to us: You have to leave immediately. Whereas it's very important for us to have recovery,' Ghalenoei said. 'We've been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that. They are forcing us to go back early.'
Logistical Hurdles and Immigration Issues
The team was forced to abandon their planned training base in Tucson, Arizona, weeks before the tournament due to immigration concerns, instead training in Tijuana, Mexico. Fifteen support staff were initially denied visas to enter the US, later reduced to 11 after some approvals. The team arrived in Los Angeles without media officers, analysts, or federation president Mehdi Taj.
Taremi noted that a short trip from Tijuana to Los Angeles took five hours, mainly due to immigration delays. He and Mohebi said the forced immediate departure would negatively affect performance, leading to fatigue and increased injury risk.
'It's not good for the football,' Taremi said. 'In the World Cup, you have to prepare well for the next game, which is a lot of stress for the players and the staff. But we don't have that support and Fifa have to help us more than this.'
Infantino's Message in the Dressing Room
Infantino addressed the squad in the dressing room, a video of which was shared online. He praised the team for uniting the stadium and urged them to continue playing with heart. 'You send a strong message to the entire world. You united the whole stadium here, behind Team Melli,' Infantino said.
Praise for Mexico
Despite the difficulties, Ghalenoei praised the warmth of co-hosts Mexico. 'The Mexican people, the Mexican government, especially the people in Tijuana, made us feel at home,' he said.
