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Iran manager Amir Ghalenoei (Image: X)
Iran opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 run with an entertaining 2-2 gully against New Zealand astatine SoFi Stadium successful Los Angeles, but the team's attraction rapidly shifted distant from shot aft the last whistle.Iran manager Amir Ghalenoei expressed vexation aft the match, revealing that the squad had been instructed to permission the United States instantly and instrumentality to their grooming basal successful Tijuana, Mexico.According to Ghalenoei, the squad had expected to stay overnight successful California to assistance betterment earlier travelling backmost the pursuing day. Instead, they were informed aft the lucifer that they would person to depart consecutive away."They didn't adjacent springiness america clip to recover, aft the crippled they told america that we had to permission immediately. Recovery is highly important aft a match, but we were asked to get connected a level and instrumentality to our campy successful Tijuana. We are truly troubled by that,'' Ghalenoei said done an interpreter.The Iranian manager admitted helium was unsure wherefore the question plans had changed."To beryllium honest, we don't cognize wherefore we are being sent back. It feels precise strange.
It seems that decisions are being made for america elsewhere. We were expected to get 2 days earlier the crippled and enactment overnight afterwards earlier returning the adjacent day. We person nary thought wherefore that changed,'' helium added.Ghalenoei besides suggested that his squad had faced important challenges passim their World Cup preparations."I deliberation our squad is possibly the astir oppressed successful the World Cup," Ghalenoei concluded.
Captain Mehdi Taremi echoed concern
Iran skipper Mehdi Taremi echoed those concerns, highlighting that respective members of the delegation, including officials from the Iranian Football Federation, enactment unit and media personnel, were incapable to question aft being denied visas."We person to permission Los Angeles close now, and it is not bully for us," Taremi said. “I deliberation FIFA person to assistance america much than this. ... Everything is similar a disaster, actually, for us,” helium concluded.
Iran draws WC opener against New Zealand
New Zealand doubly took the pb done Elijah Just, who struck successful the seventh and 54th minutes, some goals acceptable up by skipper Chris Wood. Iran responded connected each occasion, with Ramin Rezaeian levelling the scores successful the archetypal fractional earlier Mohammad Mohebbi headed location a 2nd equaliser aft the break.Despite opportunities for some sides successful the closing stages, neither squad could find a victor arsenic they settled for a constituent successful their Group G opener.Iran's logistical issues are acceptable to continue. Their adjacent Group G lucifer is besides scheduled to beryllium played astatine SoFi Stadium against Belgium connected Sunday, meaning the squad volition question backmost to the United States again aboriginal this week earlier returning to Los Angeles connected matchday.
