Iran's head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to 'stand up' to the United States, accusing the co-hosts of treating his team 'very unfairly' during the World Cup. Speaking after a dramatic draw with Egypt in Seattle, Ghalenoei reiterated complaints about visa delays, travel disruptions, and a lack of preparation time.
Infantino visited Iran's dressing room after their opening match against New Zealand, telling the squad 'you are stronger than everything.' However, Ghalenoei said that despite the FIFA president's efforts, little has improved. 'I urge FIFA to not let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future,' he stated.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi criticised FIFA's handling of the situation, noting that 11 senior officials were denied entry to the US. 'Since the beginning, it's a disaster World Cup. FIFA have to solve every problem here but unfortunately this they couldn't solve,' Taremi said, adding that the team still lacks logistics staff due to visa issues.
The team was forced to base themselves in Tijuana, Mexico, after being denied permission to stay in Seattle, and faced a late-night flight after the match. Ghalenoei highlighted the physical toll, saying: 'When you play a match, our bodies are at a low, and then a flight postpones recovery. This is the third time they have done this to us.' He concluded that despite 'obstacles and hurdles,' Iran's performance is a source of pride.
