Coach says Iran are most oppressed team in the World Cup

Iran national football team coach Amir Ghalenoei has strongly criticized the team’s treatment at the FIFA World Cup 2026, calling them the “most oppressed team in the World Cup” after new travel issues emerged following their match against New Zealand.

The coach said the team was told to leave Los Angeles immediately after their 2-2 draw and return to Mexico instead of staying in the United States for recovery as originally planned. He claimed the sudden change created unnecessary pressure on the players.

Ghalenoei added that no clear reason was given for the revised travel schedule. He said the squad was earlier informed they would stay in the US until Tuesday afternoon, but that plan was changed without explanation. He said the constant disruptions are making things difficult, but insisted the team will continue to perform despite the challenges and off-field pressure.

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The Iranian squad has already faced a difficult build-up to the tournament amid diplomatic tensions, including visa restrictions that affected some team staff during travel arrangements. The team’s base camp was also shifted from the United States to Mexico at the last minute due to logistical and visa-related problems.

Following the match, star striker Mehdi Taremi also criticized the situation, calling the overall experience “a disaster” and urging football authorities to provide better support for the team. Despite the off-field issues, Iran are continuing their World Cup campaign, but the controversy has added tension around their tournament journey.