SEATTLE, June 27 (Alliance News):Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei criticised travel restrictions imposed on his team during the FIFA World Cup 2026, saying the conditions affected his players’ physical and mental preparation after a dramatic 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle.
Iran entered the match with hopes of securing a historic place in the knockout stage but were forced to travel between Mexico and the United States for their group-stage matches due to restrictions linked to ongoing political tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Ghalenoei said the team was treated unfairly by the host country and argued that better preparation time could have improved Iran’s performance.
“The host country treated us very unfairly. Had the host nation allowed us to arrive two weeks earlier, to be more prepared, we would have been in better shape physically and mentally,” Ghalenoei told reporters after the match.
The restrictions were introduced amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran following months of conflict. US President Donald Trump had earlier said Iran could participate in the tournament but suggested it was not appropriate for the team to remain in the country between matches due to security concerns.
Iran appeared to have secured a dramatic victory against Egypt when Shoja Khalilzadeh scored in stoppage time, sending Iranian supporters into celebration.
However, after a VAR review, the goal was ruled out for offside, denying Iran a crucial win and leaving their qualification hopes dependent on other results.
“I used to think we were really an oppressed team, but after these three games, I have noticed that we also have bad luck,” Ghalenoei said.
He called on FIFA to ensure that future World Cup hosts provide equal treatment and fair conditions for all participating teams.
After the match, Iran returned to Tijuana, Mexico, where the squad will wait to discover whether they qualify for the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams.
“The team came with a sacred objective, which was to train and play well,” Ghalenoei said, adding that if Iran advanced, he would allow players time to recover and relax before the next challenge.
Iran finished third in Group G with three points, while Egypt progressed to the knockout stage alongside group winners Belgium.
