06/15/26 11:48:00
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06/15 23:47 CDT Iran coach says team ordered out of US right after 2-2 draw
with New Zealand in World Cup opener
Iran coach says team ordered out of US right after 2-2 draw with New Zealand in
World Cup opener
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) --- The coach of Iran's World Cup team said it was
ordered to leave the U.S. and return to its training base in Mexico only a few
hours after opening its politically charged tournament by playing to a 2-2 draw
with New Zealand on Monday night.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei didn't say who ordered the Iranians to leave earlier than
planned. The team had expected to spend the night in California to maximize the
normal recovery process after its opening game, only to be told after the match
that everyone must immediately get on a plane for the 140-mile trip back to
Tijuana.
"They didn't even give us time to recover," Ghalenoei said through an
interpreter. "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, and we are
really troubled by that."
The Iranians' World Cup cycle has been in upheaval since the U.S. and Israel
began a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Iran ultimately decided to compete even
after FIFA rejected its request to move its three group-stage matches out of
the U.S.
"We don't know why they are returning us, to be honest," Ghalenoei said. "I
think it's very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us.
The decision-making for us is being made elsewhere. We were supposed to come
two nights before the game, and we were supposed to stay tonight to recover and
return tomorrow at lunchtime. We have no idea why.
"I think our team is perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup."
Captain Mehdi Taremi and Ghalenoei both decried the team's lack of many
important staff members --- including the president of Iran's football
federation, coaching support personnel and media officials --- who were denied
visas by the U.S., amplifying the team's difficult preparations.
"We have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it's not good for us," Taremi said
about an hour after the match. "I think FIFA have to help us more than this.
... Everything is like a disaster, actually, for us."
Iran opened its World Cup with a disappointing draw despite overcoming two
deficits and getting the tying goal from Mohammad Mohebbi in the 64th minute in
front of a solidly pro-Iranian crowd despite the presence of many Iranian
American fans engaged in protest against Iran's government.
Iran's next match is also at SoFi Stadium against Belgium on Sunday.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
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