Iran team had to leave the United States right after their game with New Zealand, and their manager spoke out against FIFA.
Iran had to leave Los Angeles and head back to their base in Mexico right after their first World Cup match against New Zealand. Their coach, Amir Ghalenoei, openly shared his frustration about this decision.
It’s been a bumpy road for Iran leading up to this summer’s World Cup. There were even questions about whether they could join the 48-team event because of conflicts in the Middle East. They ran into visa issues and had to change their base camp after the US wouldn’t host them. Plus, FIFA said no when Iran asked to move their group matches to Mexico due to logistical reasons.
On Monday, Iran kicked off their Group H with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The team originally planned to stay in California after the match to recover and then travel back to their camp in Tijuana, Mexico, the next day. But that plan changed suddenly right after the final whistle.
Coach Ghalenoei said the team was told they had to leave Los Angeles right away. “After the game, they told us, ‘You must leave immediately,’” he said. “Recovery is really important today, but we were told to get on a plane and go back to Tijuana. This is making things harder for us with more obstacles, but we won’t let it stop us from giving our best.”
Ghalenoei also said that Iran feels like they are “the most oppressed” team at the tournament. “We don’t understand why they’re sending us away so quickly. It feels strange,” he explained. “Others seem to be making decisions for us. We were supposed to arrive two nights before the game, but that wasn’t allowed. We wanted to stay tonight to recover and then leave tomorrow afternoon.”
He added, “I think our team is the most oppressed at the World Cup. Our federation isn’t here, our media isn’t here, and our management isn’t either.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino spoke with the Iran team in the SoFi Stadium locker room after the match. “You showed your families, friends, and the world that you belong in the World Cup. You played well and still have two more games to go,” he said.
“In these next games, you’ll make everyone proud again. Thank you for being here. I know what you’re going through, and I admire your strength. Tonight, you united the whole stadium behind you and sent a powerful message to the world.
“This is just the beginning of the World Cup. You’re making history, and people everywhere are watching you. Keep playing with heart—for your people, your families, your fans, and everyone falling in love with Team Melli. You are stronger than anything.”