Iran’s World Cup has become about travel windows, border rules, and Group G football.
Amir Ghalenoei is trying to prepare a team.
He is also asking why Iran is being treated differently.
Iran World Cup travel anger now turns toward FIFA logistics
Ghalenoei detailed the latest frustration in The Telegraph, explaining how Iran was left waiting for a promised earlier route into Los Angeles before facing Belgium.
“They [Fifa] phoned me and said: ‘Are you ready if we get you a flight at 6pm?’ I welcomed that but we sat and waited and waited. We waited until 7pm, nothing happened. ‘OK, sorry, we weren’t able to do that.’ That’s going to affect us mentally, especially me as a head coach … I know Fifa is trying its best, I thank them for that but it doesn’t mean they have succeeded.”
Iran are based in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than the United States, and have publicly objected to visa issues, travel restrictions, and being unable to stay overnight in the U.S. like other teams.
After their 2-2 draw with New Zealand at SoFi Stadium, Ghalenoei said the team was told to leave immediately rather than stay for recovery. Before Belgium, he said Iran wanted more time in the city, but ended up with less than 16 hours and had to cut short training.
The Iranian federation has said it will complain to FIFA. Mehdi Taremi and Saeid Ezatolahi have also spoken about the toll on players, while reports have cited visa refusals for delegation members and anger over restricted support for Iranian fans.
Iran Group G hopes must survive off-field strain
The hard part is that Iran does not have room to let the logistics become the story on the pitch.
Group G is tightly balanced. Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand, while Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1, leaving all four teams on one point after the first round of games.
That makes Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle decisive. A win changes Iran’s tournament. A defeat leaves them leaning on the final day and possibly third-place math.
The football case is still alive because Iran showed resilience against New Zealand, twice responding after falling behind. Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi gave them goals, and their counterattacking threat is real enough to bother Belgium or Egypt.
But World Cup margins are thin. Less recovery, interrupted training and constant travel uncertainty can drain focus before kickoff.
Ghalenoei’s message is asking FIFA to simplify its unusual situation against an inhospitable host to ensure competitive balance.
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