Iran has claimed that it was ordered to leave the United States immediately after its match and return to its base camp in Mexico, sparking major dissatisfaction within the team.
Iran national football team head coach Amir Ghalenoei said today that his squad was instructed to leave the United States and return to its base in Mexico just a few hours after the match against New Zealand.
Iran and New Zealand played out a 2-2 draw today in Inglewood in their Group G opening match at the World Cup. Ghalenoei did not specify who ordered the Iranian team to leave earlier than planned. The Iranian delegation had expected to spend the night in California to recover from the match, but after the game they were reportedly told they had to immediately board a flight for the roughly 225-kilometer journey back to Tijuana.
“They didn’t even give us time to recover. After the match, they told us: ‘You have to leave immediately.’ It is very important for us to have recovery time, but we were asked to board a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and that is really upsetting us,” Ghalenoei said.
Everything surrounding the World Cup has been highly stressful for the Iranian team ever since the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. Iran ultimately decided to participate in the tournament even after the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) rejected its request to move its three group-stage matches outside the United States.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi said the team endured five hours of travel and security checks during the journey from Tijuana to Los Angeles.
“Honestly, we don’t know why they are sending us back. I think it’s very strange. It seems that others are making plans for us. Decisions are being made somewhere else. We were supposed to arrive two nights before the match, stay here tonight to recover, and return tomorrow around lunchtime,” Ghalenoei said.
“I think our team may be the most oppressed team at this World Cup,” he added.
Ghalenoei also stated that several players suffered cramps during the match, which he attributed to the lack of preparation time caused by the bureaucratic and diplomatic obstacles facing Iran.
Both Ghalenoei and Taremi criticized the absence of several key members of the delegation after the United States denied them visas, further complicating the team’s already difficult preparations for the tournament.
“We have to leave Los Angeles immediately, and that is not good for us. I think FIFA must help us more with this situation… This is a disaster for us,” Taremi said about an hour after the match.
While several hundred Iranian protesters gathered outside the stadium waving pre-revolution Iranian flags and calling for political change in Tehran, others inside the venue cheered on the national team.
“The atmosphere was incredible throughout all 90 minutes. It felt like we were playing at home,” Taremi said.
Iran will play its next Group G match against Belgium, also in Inglewood, while it will face Egypt in Seattle next week.
All four teams in Group G have one point after the opening round.
“We are facing even more obstacles, but we will not allow them to stop us from giving our best. I think today’s match was one of the best at the World Cup so far, and I believe the fans truly enjoyed it, both inside and outside the stadium,” the Iran coach concluded.
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Source: Kurir; Foto: Fatemeh Bahrami / Anadolu Agency