The Iran national team has expressed deep frustration over their treatment by FIFA and hinted at discontent with the U.S. government following a 2-2 draw against New Zealand on Monday. Captain Mehdi Taremi, midfielder Mohammad Mohebi, and head coach Amir Ghalenoei voiced their concerns after being instructed to leave Los Angeles immediately post-match.

Taremi stated, "Everything is like disaster, actually, for us," revealing that FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited the dressing room to hear their grievances directly. Ghalenoei lamented their treatment, declaring, "I think our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup." He noted their urgent return to Tijuana was detrimental to the team's recovery process.

Key points include:

• FIFA ordered the team to leave immediately after the match, disrupting their recovery plans.
• The squad faced logistical hurdles, having to abandon their original training base in Tucson, Arizona, and relocate to Tijuana, Mexico due to immigration concerns.
• Upon arrival, 15 support staff were initially denied U.S. visas, complicating their preparations.

Taremi criticized the lack of support from FIFA, stating, "In the World Cup, you have to prepare well for the next game, which is a lot of stress for the players and staff."

Despite these challenges, Ghalenoei praised the support from Mexico, saying, "The Mexican people made us feel at home." Taremi and Mohebi expressed concerns that the forced travel arrangements could hamper their performance, emphasizing the need for better logistical support during the tournament.