Iran’s national football team was reportedly instructed to leave the United States immediately after its 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against New Zealand, triggering fresh controversy during the tournament. Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei claimed the team was denied normal post-match recovery time after Monday’s 2-2 draw at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. According to the coach, players and staff were told to return directly to their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, shortly after the match ended.

“We were supposed to stay and recover, but suddenly we were told to leave immediately,” Ghalenoei said while speaking through an interpreter after the game. The Iranian squad is currently based in Mexico due to ongoing diplomatic tensions and visa-related complications linked to travel into the United States. Reports suggest Iran had initially planned to operate from Arizona during the tournament, but logistical and political issues forced a change in arrangements ahead of the World Cup.

Several Iranian officials and support staff also reportedly faced visa delays before the competition began. The situation has added another layer of tension to an already politically sensitive tournament campaign for Iran. The country’s participation in the US-hosted matches has remained under global attention amid wider geopolitical concerns involving Tehran and Washington.

Despite the controversy off the pitch, Iran delivered a spirited performance against New Zealand. The Asian side came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw in front of more than 70,000 spectators in Los Angeles. New Zealand forward Elijah Just scored twice for his side, while Iran responded through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi.

Following the match, Ghalenoei described his team as “one of the most oppressed” sides in the tournament, citing travel restrictions, recovery issues, and operational difficulties faced by the squad. Iran captain Mehdi Taremi also spoke about the team’s challenging travel schedule, revealing that border checks and security procedures significantly increased travel time between Tijuana and Los Angeles.

FIFA has not yet issued a detailed public response regarding the team’s complaints. However, reports indicate FIFA president Gianni Infantino met members of the Iranian delegation after the match. Iran will next face Belgium in a crucial Group G encounter, while New Zealand are set to play Egypt. The controversy is likely to increase scrutiny on tournament logistics and how politically sensitive teams are being managed during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.