The Iran national football team has claimed to be the most disadvantaged side at the 2026 World Cup after being forced to leave Los Angeles, United States, immediately following their 2-2 draw against New Zealand in the opening Group H match on Tuesday morning (June 16, 2026, WIB).
The incident has added further controversy to the host nation’s treatment of participating teams at the World Cup.
Previously, Arnan Binafsihi (Vice Chairman of Oranje Indonesia) and Adrian (from Speiltag Indonesia) also highlighted several issues surrounding the 2026 World Cup.
According to Adrian, the tournament has been riddled with drama — from visa complications and expensive tickets to geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States.
“The conditions in the US have changed significantly, especially regarding immigration (visa) policies, with certain countries being blacklisted,” said Adrian during the Super Taktik podcast at the Tribunnews Solo office in Karanganyar, Central Java.
“In addition, match tickets are far more expensive than in the previous edition in Qatar.”
“This situation is quite controversial, especially considering that relations between Iran and the US have yet to improve,” he added.
Iran’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, expressed his disappointment after his team, Team Melli, was ordered to return immediately to their base in Tijuana, Mexico, without being allowed to recover in the United States.
According to Ghalenoei, Iran had initially planned to stay overnight in California before flying to Mexico the following day.
However, their plan changed abruptly after the match concluded.
“After the match, they told us, ‘You have to leave immediately,’” Ghalenoei said, as quoted by Sportbible.
“Today was very important for us to recover.”
“We were told to board the plane and return to our camp in Tijuana. This disrupted our schedule. They made things more difficult and created more obstacles, but we will not let that stop us from giving our best,” he continued.
It is known that the flight between Tijuana and Los Angeles takes approximately 55 minutes, while traveling by land could take between four to five hours.
Iran is scheduled to play two group-stage matches in Los Angeles, including their next fixture against Belgium on June 22. Their final group match will be against Egypt in Seattle, near the US-Canada border, which requires a six-hour flight.
Ghalenoei stated that Iran is the most mistreated team in the tournament.
“I believe our team is the most oppressed in this entire World Cup,” he said.
“Our federation is not here, our media is not here, and our management is absent as well,” the 63-year-old coach emphasized.
Iran’s grievances are not without reason. Even before the tournament began, Team Melli faced multiple obstacles that affected their preparations.
There were initial doubts about Iran’s participation due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.
Additionally, they encountered visa issues and were not permitted to use the United States as their primary base during the 2026 World Cup.
As a result, the Football Federation of Iran selected Tijuana, Mexico, as their team headquarters for the tournament.
Iran had requested that all three of their group-stage matches be relocated to Mexico, but FIFA rejected the proposal citing logistical constraints.
This situation led Ghalenoei to feel that his team was being treated differently from other participants.
“Honestly, we don’t know why they sent us away. I find it very strange,” he said.
“It feels as though someone else is deciding everything for us.”
“We were supposed to arrive two days before the match, but that was not allowed. We were also supposed to stay overnight for rest and return the next day,” he explained.
Amid the situation faced by Iran, FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally visited Team Melli’s dressing room after their match against New Zealand.
Infantino offered moral support to the players and praised their fighting spirit, which enabled them to secure a positive result despite numerous challenges.
“You have shown your families, friends, your people, and the entire world that you deserve to be at the World Cup.”
“There are still two matches remaining, and you will make many more people proud,” Infantino told the players.
He also urged them to remain focused on the remaining group-stage fixtures.
“I know what you are going through, and I understand it. But you are stronger than all of this.”
“You sent a powerful message to the world tonight. You united the stadium and brought many people together behind Team Melli.”
“This is just the beginning. You are writing history, and the whole world is watching you,” concluded the FIFA President.
The draw against New Zealand keeps Iran’s hopes alive for reaching the knockout stage.
However, public attention is now focused not only on their on-field performance but also on the numerous difficulties surrounding Team Melli’s campaign at the 2026 World Cup.
Iran’s next match will be against Belgium on Monday (June 22) at 02:00 WIB.
