Iran's national team coach Amir Ghalenoei has condemned the treatment his squad received from US authorities during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling his players "the most oppressed" in the tournament.
The complaints center on strict travel rules forcing the Iranian delegation to return to Mexico immediately after matches on US soil. Key staff, including the head of Iran's football federation, were denied visas entirely.
US officials maintained the same-day return to Tijuana was an established protocol based on existing entry policies. Authorities did eventually allow the team to enter the country two days before certain matches.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with the Iranian delegation. Ghalenoei argued FIFA must establish clear guidelines to prevent host countries from using domestic policies to create unequal playing conditions.
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, has exposed a vulnerability in FIFA's framework when host nations have adversarial diplomatic relationships with participating teams.