Iran touched down in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon, giving them barely 24 hours to prepare for this evening’s crucial World Cup clash with Belgium at SoFi Stadium.
The squad’s late arrival came after FIFA’s efforts to secure an earlier departure from their base in Tijuana fell through at the last moment.
Belgium, by contrast, reached the city a full day ahead of their opponents.
Iran’s players had originally been scheduled to fly out on Friday evening, but those arrangements collapsed, forcing them to remain in Mexico until shortly before noon on Saturday.
Iran had been scheduled to fly out on Friday but travel plans collapsed
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REUTERS
The ongoing travel difficulties have plagued the team’s tournament campaign from the outset.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei described the frustrating sequence of events during Saturday’s press conference, revealing that FIFA had contacted him about a potential 6pm departure.
“FIFA phoned me and said: ‘Are you ready if we get you a flight at 6pm?’ I welcomed that but we sat and waited and waited,” he explained.
The promised flight never materialised, with confirmation only coming an hour later that arrangements had fallen through.
“We waited until 7pm, nothing happened. ‘OK, sorry, we weren’t able to do that.’ That’s going to affect us mentally, especially me as a head coach,” Ghalenoei said.
The Iranian manager acknowledged FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s personal intervention, noting he had done his “utmost to remove the obstacles” facing the squad.
Despite the mounting challenges, Ghalenoei revealed that no fellow managers at the tournament have reached out to offer solidarity.
“I have not had any reaction from anyone,” he stated. “Our grievances are to do with the way [World Cup organizers] have behaved towards us.”
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei described the frustrating sequence of events during Saturday’s press conference
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REUTERS
The coach added: “I’ve not heard from other coaches, they are busy with their own teams, and we did not receive anything… I would have [done].”
Iran’s secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini echoed the frustration, declaring: “We are the only team that are participating in the World Cup that we are at the host cities just 24 hours and it is not fair.”
In a partial concession, Iranian officials have confirmed the team will be permitted to enter the United States two days before their concluding group fixture against Egypt in Seattle.
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei said his side are the ‘most oppressed’ at the World Cup | REUTERS
Ghalenoei expressed regret that such arrangements had not been possible earlier in the competition.
“I wish they could have done it for the first two games,” he remarked. “To arrive in optimal conditions, they robbed us of this.”
The squad faces the prospect of returning to Mexico between matches, unable to remain on American soil during the tournament.
A draw or victory against Belgium this evening would significantly boost Iran’s knockout stage prospects.
