Iran National Team Feels Oppressed at the 2026 World Cup

JAKARTA – Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team may be the most oppressed team at the 2026 World Cup after saying his team was forced to leave Los Angeles and return to a training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, immediately after the opening match against New Zealand on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 WIB, or Monday, June 15, 2026 local time.

After the most nerve-wracking preparations for any team in the long history of the World Cup, Iran finally took to the field at the SoFi Stadium, drawing 2-2 against New Zealand in an opening match loaded with politics.

However, Ghalenoei started the post-match press conference by expressing his unhappiness that the team’s travel plans – back to Mexico – had been changed at the last minute.

Iran’s main camp was moved to Tijuana from Arizona weeks before the tournament even though their three group games took place in the United States (US). Teams are always scheduled to fly to the US two days before each game.

However, Iran traveled to Los Angeles on Sunday, June 14, 2026, and said their travel plans were changed again after the match.

ESPN reported that the reason was that the visa of striker Mehdi Torabi had expired and the team was asked to return to Tijuana after the match.

“We spend so much time in the air for the commute. They don’t even give us time to rest.”

“After the match (against New Zealand), they told us that we had to leave immediately. It was very important for us to have recovery time.”

“However, we have been told to return to our camp in Tijuana. We are really disturbed by that. I think maybe our team is the most oppressed team in the whole World Cup,” Ghalenoei said.

Ghalenoei did not say who ordered the team to go to Mexico after the match although Iran captain Mehdi Taremi revealed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino had visited the team in the locker room after the match against New Zealand.

“Of course, he wants to try to help us, but it’s also about other things. Everyone knows that. I don’t need to mention it because you know where we are.”

“I think FIFA should help us more than this. Let’s see what happens in the future,” said Taremi.

Taremi and Ghalenoei also expressed disappointment that the President of the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI), Mehdi Taj, along with other members of the team’s support staff, were barred from traveling to the US.

“It was all a disaster for us,” Taremi said.

However, in an interview, the Executive Director of the 2026 World Cup Task Force at the White House, Andrew Giuliani, responded to criticism from the Iranian team and felt the United States was innocent.

“I think the United States has been more than fair. We have obtained visas for all 31 players, obtained visas for each coach, so that way a competitive balance can be created. So, I would answer by saying that they are welcome for our hospitality,” he told ABC News.

He continued that there were visas denied for officials around the team.

Meanwhile, Iran has become the first team to participate in a World Cup hosted by a country it has been at war with after months of tension and doubts about their participation.

The fact that Iran’s opening match at the 2026 World Cup takes place outside Los Angeles – the city with the largest Iranian population outside Iran, most of whom arrived after the 1979 Islamic revolution – only adds to the anxiety.

There were boos and loud cheers when the Iranian national anthem was played. However, once the match started, loud support for Iran was heard from the 70,108 spectators.

“There are many Iranians here. They have different political affiliations, different beliefs, but they all wholeheartedly support us. I think it’s a victory for all of us,” Ghalenoei said.

Iranian fans raised pre-revolutionary and post-revolutionary flags in celebration as Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi scored for Iran.

Pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flags are still widely visible even though FIFA has banned them in the 2026 World Cup stadiums in a decision made at an emergency meeting on the morning of the match.

“I want to thank the Iranian people living in Los Angeles. They created an amazing atmosphere in the game,” said Mohebbi.

Iran will next face European giants Belgium in Inglewood, before closing out the group stage against Egypt in Seattle.

All four teams in Group G played a draw, which means they all have the same points, namely one point, ahead of the second round of matches.

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