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Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has described his team as the “most oppressed” at the World Cup, citing repeated logistical and administrative challenges affecting the squad during the tournament.
Ghalenoei said his players were informed shortly after their 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday in Los Angeles that they would be required to travel back to Mexico earlier than expected, leaving limited time for recovery.
He said the situation had made conditions increasingly difficult for the team, insisting that the disruptions were creating additional obstacles, though he maintained that Iran would continue to perform despite them.
“They delayed our arrivals, (now) they are forcing us to go back early without time for recovery,” Ghalenoei told journalists.
“They are making the situation more and more difficult, facing us with more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best,” he added.
According to the coach, the team had originally been told they would remain in the United States until Tuesday to recover before travelling, but that arrangement was later changed without explanation.
He added that the absence of key personnel had also forced technical staff to take on additional responsibilities within the team setup.
Ghalenoei said, in his view, these repeated challenges had placed Iran in the most difficult position among all participating teams at the tournament.
“But again they haven’t permitted us.
“To be honest, I have no idea why they haven’t told us.
“That’s why I think we are the most oppressed team in the World Cup,” he said.
Iran’s participation in the World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, has been overshadowed by diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Washington.
The squad reportedly faced visa delays for some staff members, while players only received travel documents at the last minute. The team also had to relocate its training base from Tucson, Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico due to logistical complications.
Striker Mehdi Taremi also criticised the situation, describing it as extremely stressful and poorly managed, saying it had disrupted the team’s preparations and overall focus.
He said the players were only informed on match day that they would be leaving the United States, adding that the uncertainty had persisted for weeks.
Taremi said the situation was affecting the team’s morale and performance, while also appealing for greater support from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
“It’s a lot of stress for the players and staffs and everyone, but we don’t have that support, and I think FIFA have to help us more than this,” he told reporters.
“Everything is like disaster, actually, for us.
“We are just tired of this situation, because from two months ago, last month, we’re having a lot of problems, you know?
“It’s so bad, and it affects our team. We just want the peace, which is the centers of FIFA, ‘peace, joy,’ and those things,”he stated.
He noted that FIFA president Gianni Infantino had visited the team’s dressing room to discuss the concerns, though he suggested broader issues remained unresolved.
