Iran national football team coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed deep frustration on Tuesday after authorities ordered his squad to immediately return to their Tijuana camp following a 2-2 World Cup draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
The unexpected travel directive disrupted Iran's plans to stay overnight in California for post-game recovery, forcing them onto a 140-mile flight shortly after the final whistle at SoFi Stadium.
"They didn't even give us time to recover," said Ghalenoei through an interpreter. "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 logistical disruption adds to ongoing difficulties faced by the team, whose World Cup preparations have been heavily impacted by the war initiated by the U.
S. and Israel against Iran on February 28.
"We don't know why they are returning us, to be honest," said Ghalenoei. "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."
"I think our team is perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup," he added.
Physical Toll on Players
The manager further explained that multiple players suffered from physical cramping during the match due to inadequate preparation time and heavy travel, necessitating non-technical substitutions.
"Before the game, I said we haven't had time to adjust because of the travel," said Ghalenoei.
"Many of our players, they had cramps, and that's why we had to substitute them. So it wasn't for technical reasons that we made substitutions.
It was because of the injury and because of the cramp."
He noted that players will be examined by the technical staff, but the forced early return makes the situation more difficult.
Despite the off-field issues, the coach praised the quality of the match and thanked the thousands of diaspora fans who filled the stadium near Los Angeles.
"We're facing more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best," said Ghalenoei.
"I think today was one of the best games in the World Cup so far, and I think the fans really enjoyed it inside the stadium and outside the stadium."
Team captain Mehdi Taremi echoed these complaints, highlighting administrative hurdles that resulted in key staff members, including the Iranian football federation president, being denied visas by the United States.
"We have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it's not good for us," said Taremi. "I think FIFA have to help us more than this.
... Everything is like a disaster, actually, for us."
The striker also noted that the team had previously endured five hours of travel and security checkpoints when traveling from Mexico to California on Sunday.
"It was an incredible atmosphere in the game, all 90 minutes," said Taremi. "It was like at home for us."
On the pitch, New Zealand took the lead twice through goals from Elijah Just, but Iran equalized both times with strikes from Ramin Rezaeian and a 64th-minute header by Mohammad Mohebi.
"The Iranians who live in Los Angeles, they make a great atmosphere," said Mohebi.
"That celebration, it comes in the mind, and I did like this — motioning to his arm — for all the fans.
Just a celebration."
Following the opening round of matches, Iran, New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt all sit level with one point each in the group standings.
Iran will face Belgium in their second group-stage match in Inglewood on Sunday, before traveling to Seattle to play Egypt the following week.
