Team report facing travel and camping restrictions and being asked to “leave immediately” after their first game
Iran have accused Fifa of failing to provide adequate support at the World Cup as the US continues to make the tournament “more and more difficult” for them.
The Middle Eastern nation’s captain Mehdi Taremi, midfielder Mohammad Mohebi and head coach Amir Ghalenoei have all reported that the logistical difficulties facing Iran are affecting the team’s preparation and recovery during the tournament.
Ghalenoei described Iran as “the most oppressed” side at the World Cup and questioned why the squad had been instructed to return to their training base in Tijuana, Mexico immediately after facing New Zealand in Los Angeles.
“After the game today they said to us: ‘You have to leave immediately,’” Ghalenoei said. “Whereas it’s very important for us to have recovery.
“We’ve been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that. They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult, more hurdles, but we’re not going to let that stop us from doing our best.”
Before the tournament, immigration restrictions forced Iran to abandon plans for a base in Tucson, Arizona. Instead, the squad established themselves across the border in Tijuana and have been travelling into the US for matches. The team insist it has messed up their preparations.
Several members of Iran’s support staff were also denied US visas before the tournament, including media personnel and analysts, while federation president Mehdi Taj was also absent from the delegation that travelled to Los Angeles.
Taremi said the situation had left the squad at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the teams at the tournament and called on Fifa to do more to assist them.
“It’s not good for football,” the forward said. “In the World Cup, you have to prepare well for the next game. That is a lot of stress for the players and the staff and everyone. But we don’t have that support and Fifa have to help us more than this.”
The striker said a journey from Tijuana to Los Angeles that would ordinarily take a short time lasted around five hours because of travel complications, with immigration procedures understood to be a major factor. He and Mohebi said that repeated cross-border journeys were also increasing fatigue within the squad.
“It’s supposed to be: tomorrow morning recovery, then we fly to Tijuana, then we return to LA again,” Taremi said. “But right now we have to go back.”
Mohebi added: “This kind of deal is not fair. We’re going to get fatigued – hamstring, lower back, glutes.”
The concerns were raised directly with Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who visited the Iran dressing room after the draw. In remarks later shared online, Infantino praised the team’s performances and sought to encourage the players despite the difficulties surrounding their participation.
“You showed to your families, friends, to your people, to the world, that you’re in the World Cup,” Infantino told the squad. “You have two more games to go.”
Ghalenoei added that the absence of Iran’s federation officials, media staff and support personnel had left the squad isolated. At the same time, the coach praised the reception his team has received in Mexico, singling out the authorities and local population in Tijuana for helping the delegation feel welcome during its stay.
Iran opened with a 2-2 draw with New Zealand and will face Egypt and Belgium next in their final two group-stage games.
