Iran's head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, has accused Fifa of treating his team as the 'most oppressed' at the World Cup after they were ordered to leave Los Angeles immediately following a 2-2 draw with New Zealand. The coach, along with captain Mehdi Taremi and midfielder Mohammad Mohebi, expressed frustration over logistical issues and hinted at resentment toward the US government.
Forced Departure After Match
Ghalenoei claimed that after the game, officials told the team to 'leave immediately,' disrupting their recovery plans. 'We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime,' he said. 'They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult.' The team had already faced delays traveling from Tijuana, Mexico, where they are based, to Los Angeles.
Infantino's Dressing Room Visit
Fifa president Gianni Infantino visited the Iran dressing room after the match, offering words of encouragement. 'You showed to your families, friends, to your people, to the world, that you're in the World Cup,' he told the squad. 'You are stronger than everything. You send a strong message to the entire world.' Taremi confirmed that the team expressed their concerns directly to Infantino.
Logistical Woes
Iran's preparation has been hampered by visa issues and a forced relocation of their training base. The team moved from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, after concerns about immigration. Fifteen support staff were initially denied US visas, later reduced to 11. The team arrived in Los Angeles without media officers, analysts, or federation president Mehdi Taj. 'Our federation isn't here, our media isn't here, our management isn't here,' Ghalenoei lamented.
Taremi criticized the lack of support, stating, 'In the World Cup, you have to prepare for the next game, but we don't have that support. Fifa have to help us more than this.' The players warned that the rushed schedule could lead to fatigue and injuries, affecting their performance in remaining group stage matches.
Praise for Mexico
Despite the challenges, Ghalenoei praised the warmth of co-hosts Mexico, where many fans supported Iran during the match. 'The Mexican people, the Mexican government, especially the people in Tijuana, made us feel at home,' he said. Iran's campaign continues as they face further logistical hurdles in the tournament.
