Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei launched a stinging attack on the treatment of his squad at the FIFA World Cup 2026, declaring them the "most oppressed" team at the tournament after a chaotic build-up shaped by the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States.

The team were forced to relocate their pre-tournament training camp to Mexico, and several members of the Iranian delegation were denied visas to enter the US. The disruptions continued even after their opening game, with Ghalenoei revealing the squad were ordered to return to Tijuana immediately rather than being allowed to rest in Los Angeles.

"We've spent so much time commuting in the air. They didn't even give us time to recover after the game today. They said we had to leave immediately. We were supposed to stay tonight and return tomorrow lunchtime but I have no idea why, and they haven't told us."

Ghalenoei added that planning decisions appeared to be made by outside parties. "It seems like others are doing the planning for us," he said. "Our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup."

A difficult debut on the pitch

Despite the turmoil off the pitch, Iran salvaged a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in their opening Group G fixture on Tuesday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The team received passionate support from a large Iranian-American crowd, though the national anthem was jeered by sections of the 70,000-strong attendance.

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi described the overall situation as a "disaster," and revealed that FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited the dressing room after the match. Infantino told the players "you are stronger than everything" and that they were "writing history, the whole world is watching you." He is also understood to have pledged to help secure visas for more Iranian delegation members ahead of the team's remaining group games.

Taremi echoed his coach's frustration. "We don't have our President, and no one from staff, also, which is so important for us. Our manager, for example, has come here doing the job of the media, and you know everything is like a disaster for us," he said.

Protests outside SoFi Stadium

The political atmosphere around the match was intense. Protesters gathered outside the stadium before kick-off, calling for change in Tehran. Anti-regime slogans echoed around the venue, with some in the crowd describing the leaders in Tehran as "terrorists." However, many attendees were equally determined to separate the players from the government they represent, greeting the team warmly once the match began.

FIFA had earlier won a legal case to ban flags bearing the pre-revolution "Lion and Sun" emblem from entering the stadium, yet several were visible inside the venue before kick-off. A peace deal between Iran and the US was reported to have been agreed on Sunday, but its fragile backdrop only underlined the weight of political tension surrounding Iran's participation at the tournament.

Sky Sports News has approached FIFA for comment.