June 16, 2026
Joe Brock and Ed White, Reuters
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Monday his team were being “oppressed” due to last-minute travel changes stemming from tensions between Iran and the US, adding the disruption had affected their performance after a 2 2 draw with New Zealand.
The Iranian football federation had negotiated a late move of the team’s base camp from Arizona to Mexico amid uncertainty over US visas and a growing sense that the squad’s presence in the United States should be kept to a minimum, Iran’s ambassador to Mexico has told Reuters.
Ghalenoei, 62, said they had suffered further disruption, with Iran expecting to remain in Los Angeles overnight on Monday but instead being required to return immediately to Mexico.
