Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has voiced strong frustration over what he described as unfair treatment of his team during the FIFA World Cup 2026, claiming Team Melli have become “the most oppressed team” at the tournament amid ongoing political tensions between Iran and the United States.
The comments came after Iran’s disappointing 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their Group G opener at SoFi Stadium, a result that left the Asian side under pressure heading into their remaining group-stage fixtures.
According to Ghalenoei, Iran’s preparations were significantly disrupted by last-minute travel changes imposed after the match. The team had expected to remain overnight in Los Angeles for recovery before returning to their base in Mexico the following day. Instead, they were instructed to leave immediately.
“We were supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow at noon, but they didn’t allow it,” said the 62-year-old coach.
“Honestly, I don’t know why. I think perhaps our team is the most oppressed team at this World Cup.”
The Iranian delegation has faced logistical challenges throughout the tournament, with players and staff forced to adapt to sudden travel arrangements due to heightened political sensitivities surrounding Iran’s participation in a World Cup hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Star striker Mehdi Taremi echoed his coach’s concerns, arguing that external issues have affected the team’s ability to focus entirely on football.
“It is not good for us, and it is not good for football,” said Taremi.
“I think FIFA should help us more.”
The Inter Milan forward revealed the squad endured a rushed schedule before the New Zealand match, traveling from Tijuana to Los Angeles on Sunday before immediately attending hotel check-ins and stadium inspections.
According to Taremi, teams would normally receive at least two days to acclimatize to match conditions in a host city, but Iran had only one day to prepare.
Iran’s difficulties have reportedly been compounded by visa-related issues that prevented several key members of the backroom staff from traveling with the squad.
As a result, members of the coaching team who were present have been required to take on additional responsibilities on the bench and behind the scenes throughout the tournament.
The absence of important support staff has added another layer of complexity for Ghalenoei and his coaching group as they attempt to guide Iran through a challenging group-stage campaign.
Credit Photo : Matt McNulty/FIFA
