Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has reiterated that his team continues to face unfair treatment from host nation the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, citing travel restrictions and visa refusals that have disrupted preparations. Speaking at a press conference in Inglewood, California, on June 20, Ghalenoei expressed hope that FIFA would persuade US authorities to ease some constraints for Iran's remaining matches.
Travel restrictions force training disruptions
Iran returned to the Los Angeles area on Saturday for its second group match against Belgium on Sunday, but Ghalenoei said his request to travel on Friday was denied, forcing the team to cut short a training session. "We needed to have 24 hours (in Los Angeles), but they gave us less than 16 hours, and that is why we had to leave our training halfway," Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. "These constraints have made it very difficult for us."
Under US-imposed restrictions tied to the war that began on February 28, Team Melli must fly to matches the day before and return immediately to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico. While other teams voluntarily follow similar schedules, Ghalenoei argued the mandatory nature is detrimental. Midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi echoed the sentiment: "All the other teams have managed to focus on our planning, whereas we have had to spend so much time just commuting."
Appeal to other World Cup coaches
Ghalenoei called on the tournament's other 47 coaches to speak out against Iran's treatment. "I ask the other 47 coaches a question, and none of them have responded to me," he said. "We are here for football, not politics, and we are saying that again. Our grievances are to the way they’ve behaved with us. If I had seen another team being treated the way we are being treated, I would say something."
Belgian right back Thomas Meunier expressed empathy, comparing the situation to facing Ukraine after the Russian invasion. "We usually don’t mix football with politics, but it’s quite challenging to separate the two," Meunier said. "This period should push the Iranian team to do better. When we played Ukraine in Nations League, there was very high motivation, more energy. They want to make their people proud and defend their nation."
Optimism for third match but lingering grievances
Ghalenoei praised FIFA President Gianni Infantino for efforts to loosen restrictions and reported that for the final group stage match against Egypt in Seattle, Iran will be allowed to travel two days in advance. "For the third game, they said, 'In Seattle, you can do what you want,'" Ghalenoei said. "But my problem is, why didn’t they let us come earlier for the first two games as well?"
The coach noted that FIFA spent much of Friday negotiating with US authorities for earlier travel to Los Angeles, but the talks failed. "They said, 'Sorry, we weren’t able to do that,'" Ghalenoei recounted. "And that’s going to affect us mentally, especially because as a head coach, I want to focus on technical things."
Visa denials and broader impact
Ghalenoei also renewed complaints about visa denials for key team personnel, including the head of Iran's football federation, coaching support staff, and media relations staffers. "Such kind of behaviour is not suitable for a World Cup," he said. "You invite a team, but you don’t let in their support staff, their backroom staff?" Despite these grievances, Iran’s soccer federation has not formally lodged a complaint with FIFA, preferring to air concerns publicly.
Iran opened its World Cup campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium on Monday, following a five-hour commute that included customs delays. Ghalenoei acknowledged that clearance procedures improved for the second match, with the team reaching its hotel more quickly from Tijuana. However, he stressed that the overall treatment has hurt the Iranian people: "Even if we spent billions of dollars, we would not be able to have justice for our people. It just shows we are an oppressed country."
Ghalenoei concluded with a plea for fairness: "I hope we achieve peace, and I hope this kind of behavior does not become institutionalized in the World Cup."
