Iran Forced to Leave US Immediately After World Cup Opener, Coach Says Team ‘Most Oppressed’

The Iranian squad was ordered to board a flight back to Mexico straight after their 2-2 draw with New Zealand, denied standard post-match recovery time as visa and security issues continue to disrupt their campaign.

Iran’s World Cup campaign has descended into further chaos after the national team was ordered to leave the United States immediately following their 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday night, with coach Amir Ghalenoei describing his side as “the most oppressed team in the World Cup.”

The Iranian squad had expected to spend the night in California to recover after their opening Group G match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Instead, they were told to board a flight straight back to their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, approximately 225 kilometres away.

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.’ It’s very important for us to have time for recovery, [but] we are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that.”

The Iranian coach did not specify which authority issued the order. “We don’t know why they are returning us, to be honest. I think it’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us.”

Captain Mehdi Taremi, who has 104 caps and is Iran’s second-highest goalscorer in history, also voiced frustration. “We have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it’s not good for us,” Taremi said about an hour after the match. “I think FIFA have to help us more than this… Everything is like a disaster, actually, for us.”

The disruption is the latest chapter in a turbulent World Cup cycle for Iran, complicated by the ongoing military conflict between the US and Israel against Iran that began on February 28. The team relocated its training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana in late May after FIFA approved the move, with the Mexican location offering closer proximity to their Los Angeles matches.

Visa issues have compounded the team’s difficulties. Fifteen members of Iran’s delegation were initially denied US entry, with only four successfully appealing. Among those still barred are Football Federation President Mehdi Taj, a vice president, and key administrative staff. US officials have cited concerns about potential links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to a report by Accra Street Journal, Taremi said the atmosphere surrounding Iran’s participation has been markedly different from previous tournaments. “Of course I have felt tension, we don’t have the same beautiful experience as previously, of peace and joy… It undermines that joy, and the message of FIFA, of football bringing about peace,” he said, also referencing Somali referee Omar Artan’s visa denial.

Despite the upheaval, Iran secured a point against New Zealand after overcoming two deficits, with Mohammad Mohebbi scoring the equaliser in the 64th minute. Iran face Belgium at SoFi Stadium on June 21 before concluding Group G against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. I think our team is perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup,” Ghalenoei said.

Source: Accra Street Journal 

Last Updated on June 16, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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