FIFA World Cup: Iran Team Claims It Was Not Allowed To Remain In U.S. Overnight After First Game
Siladitya Ray is a New Delhi-based Forbes news team reporter.
Topline
The Iranian soccer team claimed it was asked to depart the U.S. immediately and return to its base in Mexico shortly after its first World Cup game at Los Angeles Stadium, highlighting the impact of the U.S.-Iran war on the global competition despite ongoing truce talks.
Iran's Mohammad Mohebbi celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Iran and New Zealand in Inglewood, California.
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Key Facts
Iran’s first game of the World Cup ended in a 2-2 draw against the much lower-ranked New Zealand, which managed to take the lead twice in the game before the Iranians scored equalizers.
The Iranian team—whose preparations have been disrupted by political tensions—arrived in the U.S. on Sunday from its World Cup home base in Mexico.
After the game, the team’s coach, Amir Ghalenoei, told reporters they had intended to remain in California overnight as part of their recovery process but were ordered to return to Mexico immediately.
Ghalenoei complained his team was not given “time to recover” and said he was “really troubled” after being told they must “leave immediately,” after the match.
Ghalenoei did not specify who ordered them to fly back to Tijuana immediately after the game, and it's unclear if it was FIFA, a U.S. tournament official, or U.S. government officials.
Tangent
Before the start of the game, a group of Iranian-Americans in attendance booed the Iranian national anthem in an apparent protest against the country’s regime. Many of the Iranian supporters who had come to watch the game were wearing shirts with Iran’s pre-revolutionary flag and despite a FIFA ban on political symbols.
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