Iran erupted in frustration after its spectacular 2-2 draw against New Zealand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While many observers described the match as one of the best games of the tournament so far, the Iranian camp focused instead on the difficult conditions surrounding its participation.
The team faced boos during the national anthem, protests outside the stadium in Los Angeles and several organizational problems linked to travel and visas. “We are the most mistreated team in the entire World Cup,” declared star striker Mehdi Taremi after the match.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei also criticized the situation and revealed that several federation members had failed to obtain visas before the tournament. According to him, Iran received instructions to leave the United States immediately after the match, forcing the delegation to quickly travel back to Tijuana near the Mexican border.
“They told us we had to leave immediately. Frankly, we don’t understand why,” complained the Iranian coach. Midfielder M. Mohebi also expressed his anger, saying: “We’re getting tired. I find this kind of thing unfair.” The players believe the constant travel and uncertainty are seriously affecting their preparation during the competition.
FIFA under pressure after players’ complaints
Despite promises of support from Gianni Infantino, the Iranian delegation feels abandoned by football authorities. Taremi insisted that the situation had become unbearable over the last two months and accused FIFA of not doing enough to protect the team during the tournament. “It’s not good for football. We don’t have that support and FIFA needs to help us more,” said the striker before adding: “Everything is like a catastrophe for us.”
The Iranian players also complained about exhausting travel conditions after being forced to leave Los Angeles only hours after the match. Taremi even suggested that FIFA officials attempted to silence him while he was speaking to journalists in the mixed zone. Despite the tension, controversy and difficult atmosphere surrounding the squad, Iran remains determined to continue fighting for qualification at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
