Iran forced to leave USA immediately after New Zealand World Cup draw
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has described his squad as the “most repressed” at the World Cup after being forced to leave the United States immediately following Monday’s 2-2 draw against New Zealand.
The Asian nation concluded their politically charged group-stage opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before discovering their scheduled travel arrangements had been abruptly altered.
Instead of returning to their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico on Tuesday as planned, the travelling party were instructed to depart California on Monday night.
The sudden schedule change prompted fierce criticism from the 60-year-old manager during his post-match press conference.
“We spent so much time in the air commuting, 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.”
Logistical nightmare for Team Melli
The squad’s tournament preparations have been dominated by intense geopolitical complexities.
Their official base camp was relocated from Arizona to Tijuana just weeks before the tournament began.
This decision means the players must continually cross the US-Mexico border for all three of their group-stage fixtures.
“It’s very important for us to have time for recovery, but we’ve been told to return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that.”
– Amir Ghalenoei
“I think perhaps our team is the most repressed team in the whole World Cup,” the former national team midfielder added.
Federation officials blocked from entry
The logistical frustrations extend far beyond the playing squad.
Captain Mehdi Taremi revealed that the president of their national football federation, Mehdi Taj, alongside key support staff, had been denied entry into the United States.
The prolific striker confirmed that Fifa president Gianni Infantino visited the dressing room following the stalemate against the All Whites.
“I think Fifa has to help us more than this,” Taremi stated.
“Everything is a disaster for us.”
A divided but vocal crowd
This historic fixture marked the first time the Middle Eastern nation has participated in a tournament hosted by a country with which it has experienced decades of severe political tension.
Holding the match in the greater Los Angeles area added significant emotional weight to the occasion.
Southern California is home to the largest Iranian diaspora in the world, with many families having settled there following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
A capacity crowd of 70,108 provided a mixed reception, with audible jeers blending into loud cheers during the pre-match national anthems.
However, the atmosphere transformed once the referee blew the opening whistle, with the stadium offering vociferous support for the players on the pitch.
