Iran’s national team captain, Mehdi Taremi, along with midfielder Mohammad Mohebi and head coach Amir Ghalenoei, voiced their frustrations towards FIFA and hinted at discontent with the US government following their abrupt request to leave Los Angeles after a 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday night.
“Everything feels like a disaster for us,” Taremi stated, mentioning that FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited the team in their locker room, where they shared their grievances directly with him.
Ghalenoei expressed that their treatment by FIFA has made them feel like “the most oppressed” team in the tournament. “Post-match, they instructed us to leave immediately,” he said. “It’s crucial for us to have recovery time today.” He added that they were being compelled to return to their training camp in Tijuana earlier than planned, which they found troubling. “They are creating more challenges for us, but we won’t allow that to hinder our performance,” he asserted.
“We are unclear about the reasons for our early return; it seems odd. It feels as if decisions are being made for us. We were meant to arrive two nights prior to the game, but that was not permitted. We needed to stay tonight for recovery before heading back tomorrow afternoon,” Ghalenoei elaborated. “Our team is indeed the most oppressed in this World Cup. Our federation representatives, media, and management are absent.”
After the match, Infantino addressed the Iranian squad, with a video of his remarks circulating online, where he and Ghalenoei communicated through a translator. “You have shown your families, friends, and the world that you belong in the World Cup, and you still have two more games to play,” Infantino remarked. “In these upcoming matches, you will continue to make everyone proud. Thank you for being here.” He acknowledged the emotions tied to their experience and encouraged them to keep playing with heart for their supporters.
Taremi criticized the logistical challenges the team has faced, including having to shift their training base to Tijuana, Mexico, weeks prior to the tournament due to immigration concerns. This move proved necessary as 15 support staff members were initially denied US visas upon their arrival in Mexico, though that number was later reduced to 11 after some approvals. As a result, the team arrived in Los Angeles without both media officers, several analysts, and federation president Mehdi Taj. An analyst was forced to step in as a media liaison for Taremi and Mohebi, despite repeated attempts by a FIFA official to intervene during their media session.
“This situation is detrimental to football,” Taremi remarked. “In the World Cup, proper preparation is essential for the next game, and this adds significant stress for players and staff alike. We lack the necessary support, and I believe FIFA needs to assist us more effectively moving forward.”
Travel delays from Tijuana to Los Angeles compounded the team’s difficulties, with Taremi stating the journey took five hours. While he did not disclose specific reasons for the delays, it was widely understood that immigration procedures were primarily to blame. Both Taremi and Mohebi expressed concern that the forced departure immediately after the match could undermine their performance in the tournament.
“The plan was to recover tomorrow morning, then fly back to Tijuana, and return to Los Angeles again, but now we must go back immediately,” Taremi explained. Mohebi added, “Yesterday, we began our trip in the morning, arrived in the afternoon, and went straight to training, which is exhausting. Ideally, we should have arrived two days before the game. This arrangement feels unfair and will likely lead to fatigue and injuries.”
In contrast to their challenges, Ghalenoei praised the warmth of the Mexican co-hosts, noting the support from many local fans who attended the match in Los Angeles. “The people of Mexico, especially those in Tijuana, made us feel welcome,” he said.
