Iran — We endured ‘disastrous’ treatment in the World Cup

Iran’s national team striker, Mehdi Taremi, and head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, have leveled sharp criticism at the logistical conditions surrounding their country’s 2026 World Cup campaign. Both confirmed that organisational issues significantly impacted their performance after their third draw of the world Cup.

According to Reuters, Taremi described the tournament as a “disastrous World Cup.” He labeled the requirement for the team to travel back and forth between Tijuana, Mexico, and the United States for every match “unfair.”

“How is it possible that we play a 90-minute match and then have to return to Tijuana?” the striker asked. “If they wanted us out, that’s fine, but this is not fair.” He added that the team felt “unwelcome” and that the players were “fighting against everything,” not just their opponents on the pitch.

Infantino’s promises to Iran

Taremi revealed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the team’s locker room after their opening match against New Zealand and promised to resolve the issues the delegation was facing. However, according to Taremi, those promises went unfulfilled for the remainder of the group stage.

He further explained that several logistical staff members were unable to join the team because they could not secure U.S. entry visas, which only exacerbated the team’s difficulties.

In statements reported by The Guardian, coach Amir Ghalenoei held the host country responsible for the team’s treatment, stating that the situation “must never happen again.”

Ghalenoei described the team’s treatment as “very unfair” and called on Infantino to take a firmer stance with the host nation to prevent such crises in future tournaments.

He noted that visa issues prevented 11 team officials from joining the delegation. Additionally, the team was forced to use Tijuana as a base for the duration of the tournament, requiring them to fly in and out for every match, which severely impacted player preparation and recovery.

Despite his criticism, the coach distinguished between FIFA and the host authorities, noting that Infantino had attempted to help alleviate the problems. Ultimately, however, Ghalenoei attributed the team’s struggles directly to the restrictions imposed on them.

According to Reuters, the Iranian team’s reliance on Tijuana was a result of complications in obtaining U.S. visas amid ongoing political tensions. This created an arduous travel schedule throughout the group stage, leading to their exit in the first round amidst widespread criticism of the tournament’s logistical organisation.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali