Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has described the treatment of his team by the United States as “really terrible” following a turbulent World Cup campaign that included a disallowed stoppage-time goal, visa problems for staff, and nightly returns to Mexico. Speaking after Iran’s 1-1 draw with Egypt in Seattle on Friday night, Ghalenoei urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to “stand up” to the co-host nation.
Disallowed Goal Dashes Hopes
Iran needed a win to secure automatic qualification from Group G but fell behind to a fifth-minute Egypt strike. Mehdi Taremi equalized nine minutes later, and the match remained tied until stoppage time, when Shojae Khalilzadeh appeared to score the winner. However, a VAR review ruled the goal offside by a marginal call, sparking frustration among players and staff. Iran finished third in the group and must now wait for other results to see if they advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Logistical Nightmare for Iran
Due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Iran relocated their training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. They were denied permission to stay overnight in the US after each of their three group matches, forcing them to fly back to Tijuana in the early hours. Ghalenoei said this “deprived” his team of proper rest and recovery. “The host country treated us very unfairly,” he told reporters. “Their behavior toward us has been really terrible and we hope the world will be aware of that.”
Visa and Media Restrictions
Captain Mehdi Taremi called the tournament a “disaster World Cup,” not for Iran’s performance but for how the team was treated. He noted that some logistics personnel lacked visas to travel with the squad, and that no Iranian media were present in the press box—contrasting with vocal Egyptian reporters. “Despite all these problems, we’ve been able to perform well and the world is proud of Iranians,” Ghalenoei added.
Political Protests Outside Stadium
Outside Seattle Stadium, hundreds of supporters of Reza Pahlavi, a prominent dissident of the Islamic republic, gathered peacefully before the match, creating a charged atmosphere. Inside, Iran left a handwritten note thanking Seattle for its hospitality and Iranians for “their hearts, their voices,” describing football as a “test of character.”
Ghalenoei Calls for FIFA Action
Ghalenoei directly appealed to Infantino: “I urge FIFA to not let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future. I hope Mr. Infantino will actually stand up to such behavior.” Despite the adversity, he praised his players: “What these young people have done should be written in history.”
