Iran Coach: We Are the Most Beleaguered Team in History, They Didn't Even Let Us Recover Properly

Iran's head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, expressed profound disappointment with the treatment of his team during the World Cup following Monday's 2-2 draw with New Zealand. He attributed the issues to the war initiated by the USA against his country, though he did not directly name the American administration.

Iran kicked off their World Cup campaign with a thrilling 2-2 draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles. However, the result couldn't overshadow the incredibly complex situation the national team faces at the start of the tournament.

After months of uncertainty due to the conflict in the Middle East, Iran is still participating in the tournament. However, the team had to relocate its base camp to Mexico at the last minute, instead of Arizona, and the USA denied visas to about fifteen members of the delegation.

“At this press conference, I don't know if we should even discuss the match, which is quite ironic,” stated head coach Amir Ghalenoei. “Our team's plans were decided elsewhere. We were supposed to arrive in Los Angeles two nights before this match, but we were denied. Furthermore, we planned to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow. We were not granted permission.”

“That's why I'd say the Iranian national team is perhaps the most beleaguered squad in international football history. The federation president isn't here. The team manager isn't here. The internal team manager isn't here. The media isn't here. For instance, on the coaching bench, when we wanted to prepare, one of the coaches had to handle that, along with some pre-match responsibilities. That's why I assert we are the most oppressed team in international history,” the Iranian coach added.

“The team now has to recover by tomorrow, and our medical staff will report to us so we can determine which players will be ready for the next match,” he added. “But the way we've been treated, both with our late arrival and before and after the match, I believe the situation is becoming more complicated each day. Nevertheless, we are more determined than ever to work hard for our team, with more energy, and to play a better game.”

“I think this match was one of the best so far, and the audience enjoyed it, both inside and outside the stadium, because we scored four goals and showed great fighting spirit. We could have won, but the stadium was excellent. I am about 50 years old, and I have participated in camps and matches. This experience was very enriching for me. I was happy to see everyone celebrating wholeheartedly. They were celebrating their team. This was a great achievement for me.”