Iran's World Cup team was ordered to leave the United States immediately after their first group-stage match, disrupting their recovery and travel plans ahead of a crucial fixture against Belgium in Los Angeles.
Immediate Departure After New Zealand Draw
Amir Ghalenoei's side played a tense 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their opening match. Shortly after the game, team officials were told to depart the country without delay. The squad had been training in Tijuana, Mexico, after being relocated from Arizona just before the tournament began.
Ghalenoei expressed frustration, stating: "They didn't even give us time to recover. After the game today, they said to us, 'You have to leave immediately.' It's very important for us to have time for recovery, but we are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that."
Logistical and Political Challenges
The team has faced multiple hurdles, including delays in arrival and denial of entry for some members. Iran striker Mehdi Taremi described the situation as a "disaster." He said: "FIFA told us you have to go because it's our preparation. It's supposed to be tomorrow morning recovery, then we fly to Tijuana, then return to Los Angeles again. But now, right now, we have to go back. We don't have our media, we don't have our president of the federation, we don't have the vice-president and some staff also, which is so important for us. Everything is a disaster, actually, for us."
Mohammad Mohebi, who scored Iran's equaliser against New Zealand, added: "We need fair competition. I think we were meant to come here two days before the game. Yesterday we came, and we arrived in the afternoon. We went training and we get tired. I think we were supposed to be here two days before the game, and these kind of things are not fair."
Return to Los Angeles for Belgium Clash
Despite the chaos, the team made the 136-mile journey from Tijuana to Los Angeles to face Belgium. It remains unclear whether they will be ordered back to Mexico before their final group game against Egypt at Seattle Stadium next weekend.
Ghalenoei remained defiant: "They are making the situation more and more difficult, facing us with more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best."
