LOS ANGELES, United States — Iran’s national football team has expressed frustration after being required to leave Los Angeles immediately following its opening 2026 FIFA World Cup match, despite United States officials insisting the arrangement had been agreed in advance.
Iran played out a 2-2 draw with New Zealand in their Group G opener at SoFi Stadium on Monday, but attention quickly shifted away from the match after head coach Amir Ghalenoei complained that the squad was ordered to return to its training base in Tijuana, Mexico, shortly after the final whistle. Ghalenoei said the team had expected to remain overnight in California to recover before travelling back the following day, describing the sudden departure as disruptive to players’ recovery plans.
Okay News reports that US authorities rejected suggestions that the decision was made at the last minute. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Iran’s delegation had previously agreed to return to Mexico on the night of the match. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the US World Cup task force, had also indicated before the game that the team would depart immediately after the fixture.
The disagreement comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding Iran’s participation in the tournament. The team is competing in the United States while relations between both countries remain strained following months of conflict. Although a framework aimed at ending hostilities is expected to be formalized later this week, Iran’s preparations for the World Cup have been affected by visa restrictions, travel complications and the relocation of its training camp from Arizona to Tijuana.
Iranian officials have repeatedly raised concerns about logistical challenges facing the squad. Several members of the country’s delegation were reportedly denied entry into the United States, while many Iranian supporters have faced travel restrictions. The team’s ticket allocation was also reportedly affected, adding to difficulties surrounding its World Cup campaign.
Speaking after the draw, Ghalenoei said the team had not been given a clear explanation for the immediate return to Mexico. He maintained that Iran had originally planned to spend two nights in Los Angeles and accused tournament organizers of making decisions without consulting the squad. The coach described his team as one of the most disadvantaged participants at the competition.
Despite the off-field controversy, Iran secured a valuable point in its opening match and remains level with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. The team will next face Belgium in Los Angeles before concluding the group stage against Egypt in Seattle.
