Seattle, June 27: Iran’s coach Amir Ghalenoei has sharply criticized the travel restrictions imposed by the United States on his team following a 1-1 draw against Egypt in their final group-stage match of the FIFA World Cup. Ghalenoei stated that these travel bans have adversely affected his team and players.
Iran faced significant challenges, having to travel from their base in Tijuana, Mexico, for all three group-stage matches. Despite some leniency from U.S. officials before the match against Egypt, the team was only allowed to enter the Seattle area two days prior to kickoff. Their presence in the U.S. has been complicated by ongoing diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran, which nearly prevented Iran from participating altogether.
After the match, Ghalenoei told reporters, “The host nation treated us very poorly. If they had allowed us to arrive two weeks earlier, we would have been in a better physical and mental state. They did not give us a fair chance. Iran had to return to Tijuana immediately after the match, delaying the team’s recovery as they awaited their fate in the knockout stage. I felt we were truly a suppressed team, but after these three matches, I see that our luck is also poor.”
Ghalenoei urged FIFA to ensure that host countries do not treat players and teams in such a manner in future tournaments. He added, “The team came with a sacred purpose: to train and play well. If fate allows, we will move forward. I will give the players a day to rest and will take them to the coast to mentally unwind.”
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