Iran’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, expresses dissatisfaction with the travel restrictions and visa issues imposed by the United States on his team during the World Cup. Despite these challenges, Ghalenoei is hopeful that FIFA will convince the U.S. to relax some restrictions next week.
Ghalenoei acknowledges the support from the Iranian nation and dedicates the team’s efforts to Iranian martyrs. He criticizes the U.S. for actions he believes portray Iran as an oppressed nation. He hopes for peace and that such behavior will not be a long-standing issue in the World Cup.
Iran’s team faced restricted training ahead of a challenging match against Belgium due to travel limitation. They received less than 16 hours in Los Angeles instead of the 24 hours requested. This limitation forced a premature end to their training.
Ghalenoei called on other World Cup teams and coaches to address Iran’s unfair treatment. He laments the lack of response from fellow coaches, highlighting the focus on football, not politics. Iran’s team operates under travel restrictions as a result of ongoing conflict, requiring them to travel on the day before matches and return immediately after. This schedule is demanding, impacting the team’s ability to effectively prepare.
“Our situation hasn’t been the same as all the other teams,” said Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi, noting the added commuting time detracts from their preparations.
Ghalenoei expressed gratitude to FIFA President Gianni Infantino for efforts to ease U.S. restrictions, maintaining optimism for improved travel conditions before their next match against Egypt. For the Seattle match, they have been permitted more flexible travel arrangements.
Despite efforts to negotiate for earlier travel to Los Angeles, the day in advance request was denied. This delay affected the team mentally and challenged their focus on the game.
Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in their opening match after a taxing travel routine that included significant customs delays. Ghaleneoi expressed frustration at being forced out of the U.S. shortly after, despite knowing about these travel constraints in advance.
Although more efficient customs processing occurred during their latest travel, there are continued concerns about denied visas for Iranian support staff, members of the football federation, and media personnel. These issues Ghalenoei deems unsuitable for World Cup contexts.
Belgian player Thomas Meunier empathized with the Iranian team, comparing it to similar challenges faced when playing against Ukraine, highlighting the interplay of politics and sport.