The Iranian national football team was promptly expelled from the United States by American authorities immediately following their recent World Cup fixture against New Zealand. The contentious match, which concluded in a 2-2 draw, took place at SoFi Stadium on the morning of June 16.
Amir Ghalenoei, head coach of the Iranian squad, strongly asserted that his team has been subjected to the most significant pressure and oppression throughout this particular World Cup 2026 event. The team was compelled to gather their belongings and depart US soil without delay after their Group G encounter.
Following the hard-fought draw with New Zealand, the Asian team was instructed to fly back to their training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, despite their exhaustion from the intense match. This incident highlights a unique and challenging situation for Iran, as they became the first team to participate in a World Cup hosted by a nation with which they share pre-existing political tensions and historical friction, a dynamic that existed even prior to the tournament’s commencement.
Coach Ghalenoei openly voiced his profound dissatisfaction with the host country’s actions, which severely disrupted the team’s meticulously planned travel arrangements and imposed significant logistical challenges. He reiterated his belief that his team had endured the most substantial pressure among all participants in the ongoing World Cup tournament.
He elaborated on the difficulties faced, stating, “We spend a lot of time flying; they didn’t even give us enough time to rest comfortably. After today’s match, they informed us that we absolutely had to leave this place. The most crucial thing for us is time to rest and recover our strength, but we were forced to return to our training camp in Tijuana. We truly have many issues surrounding this matter. Indeed, our team has been severely oppressed throughout this World Cup event.”
Despite the off-field challenges, the match between Iran and New Zealand itself drew an impressive crowd of over 70,000 spectators. Notably, these supporters, even if not Iranian citizens, consistently cheered and encouraged the Iranian players throughout the game, demonstrating a widespread appreciation for their efforts.
In the provisional Group G standings, Iran currently holds the second position, while New Zealand leads the group. Both teams share one point. Belgium and Egypt are ranked third and fourth, respectively, also with one point each following their 1-1 draw in another group fixture, indicating a tightly contested group.
