Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei criticizes travel restrictions for the World Cup in the run-up to the match against Belgium

Iranian coach Amir Ghalenoei says that while his World Cup team continues to be treated unfairly by the host nation of the US due to travel restrictions and visa denials, he is optimistic that FIFA will convince the Americans next week to ease some of those restrictions.

“I am very happy that the Iranian nation is behind us,” Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. «Our martyrs in Iran, we play for them. But I know that this kind of behavior has hurt our people. Even if we spend billions of dollars, we could not have justice for our people. It just shows that we are an oppressed country. But still, I hope that we achieve peace, and I hope that this kind of behavior is not institutionalized during the World Cup.»

Iran returned to Los Angeles on Saturday for its second match against Belgium on Sunday, but Ghalenoei said he was forced to curtail his team’s training ahead of this difficult encounter with the No. 10 team in the FIFA world rankings after his request to travel on Friday was denied.

“We needed 24 hours (in Los Angeles), but they gave us less than 16 hours, so we had to leave our training halfway through,” Ghalenoei said. “These restrictions have made things very difficult for us.”

Ghalenoei also called on the other World Cup teams and coaches to speak out against the treatment of the Iranian team.

“I asked the other 47 coaches a question, and none of them responded to me,” he said.

«We are here for football, not politics, and we say that again. Our grievances are about the way they have behaved towards us. I have not heard from other coaches (at the World Cup), and I am sure they are busy preparing their own teams, and we never expect them to have a reaction. But if I had seen another team being treated the way we are being treated, I would say something.»

The Iranian team is operating under travel restrictions from the US, which launched a war against Iran on February 28. Team Melli has been instructed to fly to the US matches the day before the competition and return to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, immediately afterwards.

READ: US defends Iran World Cup travel restrictions, says discussions are ongoing

While that schedule isn’t considered burdensome by other teams voluntarily traveling in the same time frame, it’s not what Ghalenoei wants. Iran trained at LA Galaxy’s home stadium in the suburb of Carson on Saturday afternoon after the short flight from Tijuana.

“You cannot deny that our situation is not the same as that of all other teams,” said Iranian midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi. “All the other teams managed to focus on our planning, while we had to spend so much time commuting.”

Ghalenoei has repeatedly praised FIFA President Gianni Infantino for his efforts to ease US restrictions, and he is optimistic the US will allow Team Melli to travel to Seattle next week, two days before the final group match against Egypt.

“Before the third game they said, ‘In Seattle you can do whatever you want,’” Ghalenoei said. “’You can do whatever you want, and you can come early.’ But my problem is, why didn’t they let us come earlier for the first two games too? All I know is that before the last game they let us make our own decisions about planning the trip. But unfortunately, others made these timing decisions for us in the first two games.”

The coach said FIFA spent much of Friday trying to convince the U.S. government to let Iran fly to Los Angeles that day. Ghalenoei waited on the phone for permission to go to the airport, but negotiations were unsuccessful.

“They said, ‘Sorry, we couldn’t do that,’” Ghalenoei said. «And that will affect us mentally, especially because as head coach I want to concentrate on technical matters. I thank FIFA for that, but that does not mean that it has been successful. I just hope that there will be no problems at future World Cups.»

Iran also played the opening match of the World Cup at SoFi Stadium on Monday, drawing 2-2 against underdog New Zealand on the day after a five-hour journey including customs delays.

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Ghaleneoi said after the match that he was surprised and angry when he was immediately sent out of the country instead of staying another day in the US to optimize his team’s recovery period, while US officials claimed Iran was already aware of the restrictions.

Ghalenoei acknowledged Saturday that the Iranians cleared customs and reached their Los Angeles hotel much faster this time after their short flight from Tijuana, crediting U.S. officials with ironing out some bureaucratic wrinkles.

But he also reiterated his complaints about members of the team’s traveling party who were denied visas, including the head of Iran’s football federation, coaching support staff and media relations staff.

“Such behavior is not suitable for a World Cup,” Ghalenoei said. “You invite a team, but you don’t let their support staff, their backroom staff, in?”

Ghalenoei said Iran’s football federation has not filed a formal complaint with FIFA about its treatment, but is only airing its grievances publicly.

Belgian right-back Thomas Meunier expressed his team’s empathy with the situation of the Iranians, which reminded him of the confrontation with Ukraine after the Russian invasion.

«Normally we don’t mix football with politics, but it is quite a challenge to separate the two, that’s true,» Meunier said through an interpreter. «This period should push the Iranian team to do better, in my opinion. When we played against Ukraine in the Nations League, there was a very high motivation and more energy. They want to make their people proud and defend their nation. For us it is an extra challenge. I can imagine that some Iranian players have families directly affected by the war, and we obviously sympathize with these people.»

Published on June 21, 2026