Iran's head coach criticizes World Cup organizers

Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei criticized the organizers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States on Monday, claiming that authorities forced his team to leave the country "immediately" after their match against New Zealand instead of allowing them to spend an additional night in Los Angeles to rest, EFE reported.

"I don't know why they are forcing us to return (to Tijuana, where the Iranian national team is based during the 2026 World Cup). It is very strange that others are making decisions for us," Ghalenoei said during the post-match press conference following Iran's 2-2 draw with New Zealand at the Los Angeles stadium.

According to the Iranian coach, the team had initially been granted permission to stay an extra night in Los Angeles and return to Mexico the following morning, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

"However, we were not allowed to do so," he said.

Ghalenoei argued that the decision created an additional burden for the Iranian delegation, which needed time to recover after the demanding match.

The coach added that he did not know the reasons behind the refusal and described his delegation as "the most oppressed" among all World Cup participants after being forced to board a flight immediately following the game, a situation he said distinguished Iran from other teams in the tournament.

Nevertheless, Ghalenoei expressed gratitude for the atmosphere created by supporters at the stadium.

"There were many Iranians there, with different political affiliations. They supported us wholeheartedly, and I believe this is a victory for everyone," he said.

Iran's national team arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday for its World Cup debut on American soil amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between Washington and Tehran.

The team's arrival coincided with an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the signing of an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after more than three months of conflict.

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