Iran coach says team ordered to leave U.S. hours after World Cup opener

Inglewood, Calif. — Iran's World Cup coach said the team was ordered to leave the United States and return to its training base in Mexico only hours after opening its tournament with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand on Monday night.

Coach Amir Ghalenoei did not say who gave the order. The team had planned to spend the night in California after the match but was told afterward that everyone had to board a plane for the 140-mile trip back to Tijuana.

"They didn't even give us time to recover," Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. "After the game today, they said to us, 'You have to leave immediately.' It's 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."

Iran's World Cup preparations have been disrupted since the United States and Israel began a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Iran chose to compete after FIFA rejected its request to move its three group-stage matches out of the United States.

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi said the team spent five hours on travel and security checks during what is normally a short trip from Tijuana to the Los Angeles area on Sunday.

"We don't know why they are returning us, to be honest," Ghalenoei said. "I think it's 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. I think our team is perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup."

Taremi and Ghalenoei both criticized the absence of key staff members, including the president of Iran's football federation, coaching support personnel and media officials, who were denied U.S. visas.

"We have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it's not good for us," Taremi said about an hour after the match. "I think FIFA have to help us more than this. ... Everything is like a disaster, actually, for us."

Ghalenoei said several players developed cramps during the match, which was played in mild conditions. He linked the problems to the lack of proper preparation time caused by Iran's travel and visa issues.

"Before the game, I said we haven't had time to adjust because of the travel," Ghalenoei said. "Many of our players, they had cramps, and that's why we had to substitute them. So it wasn't 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."

Iran's next two group-stage matches are against Belgium in Inglewood on Sunday and against Egypt in Seattle next week.

Iran opened its World Cup with a draw against a team ranked 65 places lower in FIFA's rankings. The Iranians overcame two deficits, with Mohammad Mohebi scoring the tying goal in the 64th minute before a strongly pro-Iranian crowd at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.

The game drew a charged atmosphere from a divided Iranian diaspora. Several hundred Iranian Americans protested the government outside the stadium, and some fans inside jeered during the national anthem and displayed the pre-1979 Lion and Sun emblem. Once play began, most of the crowd supported the Iranian players.

"It was an incredible atmosphere in the game, all 90 minutes," Taremi said. "It was like at home for us."

Elijah Just scored twice for New Zealand. Iran answered with two goals, including Mohebi's header from a pass by Ramin Rezaeian, who had scored earlier. Mohebi made a gun gesture and an "ice in my veins" sign after his goal.

"The Iranians who live in Los Angeles, they make a great atmosphere," Mohebi said. "That celebration, it comes in the mind, and I did like this for all the fans. Just a celebration."

Players from both teams shook hands and embraced after the final whistle. Ghalenoei sat alone in the dugout while his players walked the field and applauded the remaining fans.

Iran, Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand each have one point after the first round of group play.

"We're facing more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best," Ghalenoei said. "I 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."