The Iranian World Cup team was ordered to leave the United States and return to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, just hours after playing to a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in its opening match. Coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed frustration at the immediate departure, stating the team had expected to stay overnight in California for recovery. He highlighted the 140-mile trip back to Tijuana was highly disruptive and prevented adequate rest for the players. The team had already endured a five-hour journey with security checks from Tijuana to Los Angeles the day prior.
This immediate return was part of a broader set of restrictions imposed on the Iranian team. According to Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House's World Cup task force, Iran's team was allowed to enter the U.S. one day before a match but was required to leave on the evening of their matches. This policy contrasts with normal World Cup procedures where teams typically remain in the host country for recovery. The Iranian team's World Cup cycle has been heavily influenced by heightened political tensions, including a war between the U.S. and Israel against Iran, which began on February 28.
FIFA had previously rejected Iran's request to move its three group-stage matches out of the U.S. The team's captain, Mehdi Taremi, echoed the coach's concerns, stating, "We don't know why they are returning us, to be honest. It's very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning." Ghalenoei added that the lack of recovery time contributed to many players experiencing cramps and requiring substitutions for non-technical reasons during the match, which was played in mild conditions. He labeled his team as "perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup" due to these challenges.
The team's travel restrictions and perceived inconsistent treatment have drawn criticism. Coach Ghalenoei questioned why U.S. authorities would offer greater flexibility for their final group match against Egypt in Seattle, allowing them more control over travel plans, but denied such considerations for their initial games against New Zealand and Belgium. He pointed out the disparity, noting that opponents like Belgium had ample time to settle and train. Iran's ambassador to Mexico confirmed that, under visa conditions, players must enter and leave U.S. territory on the same day as their matches.
The Iranian team has been based in Tijuana, Mexico, and must commute to the U.S. for its Group G matches due to these restrictions. This setup is a change from their original plan to base themselves in Tucson, Arizona, a move necessitated by the war and approved by FIFA. Despite these hurdles, Ghalenoei stated the team remained focused on performance, noting, "We're facing more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best."
