{"id":3161,"date":"2026-06-16T05:35:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T05:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=3161"},"modified":"2026-06-16T05:35:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T05:35:26","slug":"iran-coach-says-team-ordered-out-of-us-right-after-2-2-draw-with-new-zealand-in-world-cup-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raleighmovingnews.com\/?p=3161","title":{"rendered":"Iran coach says team ordered out of US right after 2-2 draw with New Zealand in World Cup opener"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) \u2014 The coach of Iran\u2019s World Cup team said it was ordered to leave the U.S. and return to its training base in Mexico only a few hours after opening its politically charged tournament by playing to a 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday night.<\/p>\n

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Coach Amir Ghalenoei didn\u2019t say who ordered the Iranians to leave earlier than planned. The team had expected to spend the night in California to maximize the normal recovery process after its opening game, only to be told after the match that everyone must immediately get on a plane for the 140-mile trip back to Tijuana.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t even give us time to recover,\u201d Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. \u201cAfter the game today, they said to us, \u2018You have to leave immediately.\u2019 It\u2019s very important for us to have time for recovery, (but) we are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Iranians\u2019 World Cup cycle has been in upheaval since the U.S. and Israel began a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Iran ultimately decided to compete even after FIFA rejected its request to move its three group-stage matches out of the U.S.<\/p>\n

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi said the team endured five hours of travel and security checks during what\u2019s normally a very short trip from Tijuana to the Los Angeles area on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know why they are returning us, to be honest,\u201d Ghalenoei said. \u201cI think it\u2019s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us. The decision-making for us is being made elsewhere. We were supposed to come two nights before the game, and we were supposed to stay tonight to recover and return tomorrow at lunchtime. We have no idea why.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think our team is perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taremi and Ghalenoei both decried the team\u2019s lack of many important staff members \u2014 including the president of Iran\u2019s football federation, coaching support personnel and media officials \u2014 who were denied visas by the U.S., amplifying the team\u2019s difficult preparations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it\u2019s not good for us,\u201d Taremi said about an hour after the match. \u201cI think FIFA have to help us more than this. \u2026 Everything is like a disaster, actually, for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ghalenoei said several players developed cramps during the game, which was played in mild conditions. He attributed the injury problems to the lack of proper preparation time caused by Iran\u2019s bureaucratic and diplomatic obstacles.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore the game, I said we haven\u2019t had time to adjust because of the travel,\u201d Ghalenoei said. \u201cMany of our players, they had cramps, and that\u2019s why we had to substitute them. So it wasn\u2019t for technical reasons that we made substitutions. It was because of the injury and because of the cramp. They will be examined (Tuesday) by our technical staff, but the fact they delayed our arrivals and they are forcing us to go back early without time for recovery, they are making the situation more difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Iranians\u2019 remaining two games in group stage play are against Belgium in Inglewood on Sunday, followed by a trip to Seattle to face Egypt next week.<\/p>\n

Iran opened its World Cup with a disappointing draw to a team ranked 65 places lower in FIFA\u2019s rankings. Yet the Iranians also overcame two deficits in an exciting match, getting the tying goal from Mohammad Mohebi in the 64th minute before a strongly pro-Iranian crowd at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, which has the world\u2019s largest population of Iranians outside Iran.<\/p>\n

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The game was played in a crackling atmosphere created in part by a conflicted, diasporic fan base which remains furious with the current Iranian government, but is still largely supportive of Team Melli.<\/p>\n

While several hundred Iranian Americans protested the government outside, many fans from the diaspora jeered and turned their backs on the field during the national anthem. Dozens of Lion and Sun emblems \u2014 the centerpiece of Iran\u2019s official flag before 1979 \u2014 were displayed in the crowd despite FIFA\u2019s attempts to keep them away, while dozens more fans wore the Lion and Sun emblems on T-shirts.<\/p>\n

Yet the vast majority of the crowd vocally supported the Iranian players once the match kicked off.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an incredible atmosphere in the game, all 90 minutes,\u201d Taremi said. \u201cIt was like at home for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elijah Just scored early in each half for New Zealand, but Iran responded twice with a pair of beautiful goals, including Mohebi\u2019s header off a perfect pass from Ramin Rezaeian, who had scored off the side of his boot in the first half.<\/p>\n

Mohebi appeared to mime the shooting of a gun after his goal, setting off criticism online. He also made the now-ubiquitous \u201cice in my veins\u201d gesture originated 10 miles away from SoFi Stadium by Los Angeles Lakers rookie D\u2019Angelo Russell a decade ago, before he held up a heart to the cheering fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Iranians who live in Los Angeles, they make a great atmosphere,\u201d Mohebi said. \u201cThat celebration, it comes in the mind, and I did like this\u201d \u2014 motioning to his arm \u2014 \u201cfor all the fans. Just a celebration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Players from both teams embraced and shook hands after the final whistle, with at least one jersey swap occurring. While Ghalenoei sat by himself in the dugout, his players gathered together and walked around the field applauding their remaining thousands of flag-shaking, roaring fans.<\/p>\n

Both of Iran\u2019s next two matches are tougher on paper, endangering their chances of getting out of the World Cup group stage for the first time. Iran, Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand have one point apiece after the opening round.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re facing more hurdles, but we\u2019re not going to let that stop us from doing our best,\u201d Ghalenoei said. \u201cI think today was one of the best games in the World Cup so far, and I think the fans really enjoyed it inside the stadium and outside the stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Associated Press writer Amy Taxin and AP Sports Writer Beth Harris contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Read more 2026 Stanley Cup merchandise is live; Carolina Hurricanes fans flood sports shops<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/fifa-world-cup<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

INGLEWOOD, Calif. 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