Iranian team told to exit US immediately after World Cup opener draw

The head coach of Iran’s national football team said the squad was instructed to leave the US and return to their training base in Mexico just hours after the start of a politically tense tournament, where they drew 2–2 with New Zealand on Monday night, June 16, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei did not specify who issued the order for the team to depart earlier than scheduled. The Iranian squad had planned to stay overnight in California to ensure proper recovery after their opening match, but after the game, players were reportedly told to immediately board a flight back to Tijuana, near Los Angeles.

“They didn’t even give us time to recover,”  Ghalenoei said through a translator. “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 coach said Iran’s preparation cycle for the World Cup has been marked by disruptions since February 28, when the United States and Israel began a war against Iran, adding that the team decided to participate in the tournament even after FIFA rejected its request to move three group-stage matches outside the United States.

“I think it’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us. The decision-making for us is being made elsewhere. We were supposed to come two nights before the game, and we were supposed to stay tonight to recover and return tomorrow at lunchtime. We have no idea why,” he said, adding that Iran’s team is perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup.

By Jeyhun Aghazada