Iran's World Cup coach, Amir Ghalenoei, has accused the United States of treating his team "unfairly" during the tournament, urging FIFA to prevent similar situations in future events. Ghalenoei stated that his players performed admirably despite facing significant challenges.
The Iranian squad's participation was marked by logistical difficulties, including a relocation of their training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, prior to the competition. Visa restrictions meant the team was only permitted to enter the United States the day before their initial two matches in Los Angeles, with immediate departures required on game days.
While travel arrangements were slightly eased for their match in Seattle, allowing a two-day early arrival, the team still had to return to Tijuana post-game. Ghalenoei expressed pride in his players' resilience, saying their efforts "should be written in history" given the circumstances.
He specifically called on FIFA to intervene, stating, "I urge Fifa: don't let hosts treat players and teams the same way in future World Cups." FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously commented on ensuring Iran's participation, noting the organization's role in overcoming potential obstacles that were beyond FIFA's influence.