Los Angeles, June 21: Amir Ghalenoei, the head coach of the Iran football team, has raised concerns regarding the travel arrangements made for his team during the FIFA World Cup 2026. He stated that the excessive travel between Mexico and the United States is placing both physical and mental strain on his players.
Ahead of a crucial match against Belgium, Ghalenoei remarked, “The tournament organizers indicated that more flexibility would be shown for our final group-stage match against Egypt in Seattle next week.”
Iran has been based in Mexico throughout the tournament, only traveling to the U.S. a day before each match. Following each game, the team must return to Mexico, creating a challenging travel schedule.
Ghalenoei expressed his hope that the rules would be relaxed for the upcoming match against Egypt in Seattle.
The 63-year-old coach questioned why such flexible arrangements were not available for Iran’s earlier matches. “Why weren’t we allowed to arrive earlier for our first two matches?” he asked.
He believes that the continuous travel is affecting the team’s preparations during a critical phase of the tournament. “I feel we are taking too many flights, going back and forth. The constant travel is exhausting us. It is impacting us mentally and technically,” he added.
After drawing their opening match 2-2 against New Zealand, Iran remains firmly in the race to qualify for the knockout round.
In Group G, Belgium and Egypt also played to a 1-1 draw, leaving the path to the second round open for all four teams in the group.
A victory against Belgium could significantly enhance Iran’s chances of advancing, while another draw or loss could put them under pressure ahead of their final group-stage match against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
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