Iran Coach Criticizes Treatment at World Cup Amidst US Travel Restrictions

Iran’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, expressed concerns regarding travel constraints imposed by the U.S. during the World Cup. Despite the challenges, he believes FIFA might convince U.S. officials to relax some restrictions soon.

Travel Issues and Team Preparation

Ghalenoei’s team faced difficulties due to travel restrictions and visa refusals. He noted that these actions have negatively impacted Iranians, arguing that no amount of money could compensate for these injustices. Ghalenoei emphasized the team plays for their nation, aiming for peace and non-institutionalized behavior at the World Cup.

Iran returned to Los Angeles for a match against Belgium. Ghalenoei had to cut short their preparation because they received less training time than requested. He appealed to other coaches to voice support against the treatment Iran has received.

Restrictions and Player Responses

The U.S. imposed rules requiring Iran to fly in and out of matches on the day before and after games. Ghalenoei criticized this schedule as unfair, despite other teams voluntarily doing the same. The team trained at the LA Galaxy’s stadium after flying in from Tijuana.

Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi commented on the unique challenges faced by the team, highlighting difficulties in focusing on soccer preparations due to extended travel time.

Hope for Future Adjustments

Ghalenoei praised FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s efforts to amend restrictions. He expressed optimism for Iran’s ability to travel two days early for their match in Seattle against Egypt. The coach was perplexed by why similar allowances were not made for earlier matches.

FIFA’s attempts to negotiate travel adjustments for Iran on Friday failed, impacting the team’s mental state. Ghalenoei hopes future World Cups won’t encounter similar issues.

Recent Matches and Visa Problems

Iran’s opening match against New Zealand ended in a 2-2 draw. The team endured a lengthy commute filled with customs delays. U.S. officials, however, claimed Iran was aware of the restrictions beforehand.

Some logistical improvements were noted in Iran’s second arrival in Los Angeles, but visa issues persisted. Key staff members were unable to secure visas, impacting the team’s support network.

Support from Other Teams

Belgian player Thomas Meunier expressed sympathy for Iran’s situation, relating it to Ukraine’s challenges amid conflict. He noted the difficulty in separating politics from sports and regarded the situation as a motivation for Iran’s team to perform better.