Iran Captain Also Complains of Stress and Order to Leave USA Immediately After First Match

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi has voiced his frustration over the treatment of his team, revealing that the entire delegation was ordered to leave the United States immediately after their opening match of the 2026 World Cup. The striker appealed to FIFA for greater support, citing the immense stress placed on the players, regardless of the political tensions between Iran and the USA.

Iran's head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, echoed similar sentiments.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reportedly visited the Iranian locker room directly after their 2-2 draw against New Zealand.

“Everything is a disaster for us… We still have problems because normally, tomorrow morning, we would have a recovery training session before heading to Tijuana. But instead, we have to leave Los Angeles right now, and that’s not good for us. It’s not good for football, because at a World Cup, you need to prepare well for the next match. This puts a lot of stress on the players, the staff, and everyone else. We don’t have this support, and I believe FIFA should help us more,” Taremi stated.

When asked what Infantino told the players, the forward replied: “He just wants to help us. We are still at the beginning of the World Cup, and he will help us.”