INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The coach of Iran’s national football team, Amir Ghalenoei, said the squad was instructed to leave the United States immediately after their 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their World Cup opener on Monday night, disrupting their recovery plans.
Ghalenoei told reporters through an interpreter that the team had originally planned to spend the night in California following the match at SoFi Stadium but were instead ordered to return straight away to their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, roughly 140 miles away.
“They didn’t even give us time to recover,” Ghalenoei said. “After the game today, they said to us, ‘You have to leave immediately.’ It’s very important for us to have time for recovery, but we are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana.”
The coach did not specify who issued the order.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi also criticized the situation, saying the team faced lengthy travel and security checks even before the match. He added that the abrupt return plan added further strain on players already dealing with difficult preparations.
“We don’t know why they are returning us, to be honest,” Ghalenoei said. “It seems like others are doing the planning for us. We have no idea why.”
He further claimed the team has been operating under unusual logistical and administrative pressure throughout the tournament, including delays in travel arrangements and limited access to key federation and support staff due to visa issues.
“We have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it’s not good for us,” Taremi said. “Everything is like a disaster for us.”
Ghalenoei also said several players suffered cramps during the match, which he attributed to disrupted preparation and recovery time rather than tactical decisions.
Despite the off-field challenges, Iran produced a spirited performance in a dramatic 2-2 draw. Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand, striking early in both halves, while Iran responded through Mohammad Mohebi and a second equalizer to secure a point.
Mohebi’s goal in the 64th minute came in front of a highly charged crowd at SoFi Stadium, where a large Iranian diaspora created a strong atmosphere of support. The match drew intense emotion both inside and outside the stadium, with fans expressing a mix of pride in the team and criticism of Iran’s political leadership.
Iran’s remaining group-stage matches will see them face Belgium in Inglewood on Sunday before traveling to Seattle to meet Egypt.
Taremi said that despite the challenges, the atmosphere inside the stadium felt like home support for the team.
“It was an incredible atmosphere in the game, all 90 minutes,” he said. “It was like at home for us.”
