LOS ANGELES: Coach Amir Ghalenoei said Iran is the “most downtrodden team in the World Cup” after his players were suddenly informed they had to travel back to Mexico immediately after their opening match ended in Los Angeles late on Monday.
It is the latest logistical nightmare for an Iranian squad that arrived at the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row between Tehran and Washington.
The US – which was in military conflict with Iran for months until a peace deal was announced on Sunday – refused to issue visas to some team support staff and only provided travel documents to the players at the last minute.
The team originally intended to base its training camp in Tucson, Arizona, but moved it at the 11th hour to Tijuana, Mexico due to visa and logistical issues.
“They delayed our arrivals, (now) they are forcing us to go back early with no time to recover,” Ghalenoei told reporters after the 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
“They make the situation more and more difficult and face us with more obstacles, but we will not let that stop us from doing our best.”
According to Ghalenoei, his team had previously been told they would be able to stay in the US until Tuesday lunchtime “to recover.”
“But again they haven’t let us,” he said.
“To be honest, I have no idea why they haven’t told us.”
The coach said technical staff had been forced to take on management duties due to the absence of key personnel.
“That’s why I think we’re the most downtrodden team in the World Cup,” he said.
Iran played their opening game against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, just a day after a US-Iran peace deal was announced that brought an “immediate and permanent” end to military operations on all fronts.
Their star attack Mehdi Taremi also called his side’s treatment at the tournament a “disaster” after the match.
“It’s a lot of stress for the players and the staff and everyone, but we don’t have that support and I think Fifa needs to help us more than this,” he told reporters.
He added: “Everything is actually like a disaster for us.”
Taremi said the first the players had learned they would be leaving the United States on Monday was on the day of the game.
“We’re just tired of this situation because from two months ago, last month, we have 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.”
Taremi said Fifa president Gianni Infantino had been in Iran’s dressing room and discussed the issue.
“He wants to try to help us, but it’s also about other things,” he said.
