Sport: Soccer Country: Mexico Category: Injuries

Iran coach says team ordered to leave U.S. after first World Cup match

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 16, 2026, 5:33 AM

Last updated Jun 16, 2026

Iran coach says team ordered to leave U.S. after first World Cup match

Summary

Iran's World Cup team coach Amir Ghalenoei announced the team was ordered to return to Mexico just hours after their 2-2 draw against New Zealand. This decision disrupted their recovery plans following the politically charged match, where Iran came back twice to tie. The team faced significant logistical challenges leading up to the tournament due to visa issues affecting vital staff members. The coach expressed concerns about player preparedness, citing cramps during the match attributed to travel complications. Iran is scheduled to play Belgium and Egypt in the group stage, with their strategies closely monitored due to ongoing political tensions.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in their opener.
•Coach Ghalenoei cited issues with recovery time.
•The team faced travel hardships due to visa denials.
•Iran's next matches are against Belgium and Egypt.
•Political tensions surround the team's World Cup participation.

Latest Updates

5:33 AMYahoo Sports — Iran World Cup team coach says it was booted from U.S. right after first match

What they're saying

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Iran's World Cup team coach says it was ordered to leave the U.S. and return to its training base in Mexico only a few hours after opening its politically charged tournament with a draw.
— Yahoo Sports

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