Iran Leave Los Angeles After 2-2 Draw as Team Decries World Cup Restrictions
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jun 16
Iran Leave Los Angeles After 2-2 Draw as Team Decries World Cup Restrictions
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 16
Summary
Iran were told to leave Los Angeles immediately after Monday’s 2-2 World Cup draw with New Zealand and return overnight to their base camp in Tijuana, coach Amir Ghalenoei said.
Ghalenoei said the late travel change cut into recovery time after the team had already flown in only on Sunday, calling Iran “the most repressed team in the whole World Cup.”
Mehdi Taremi said FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited the locker room, but added the team still needed more help as federation president Mehdi Taj and other support staff were barred from traveling to the U.S.
The disruption comes amid exceptional political strain: Iran are playing a World Cup hosted by a country it is at war with, yet drew loud support from 70,108 fans in Inglewood despite anthem jeers and flag tensions.
Group G is level on 1 point each after all four teams drew Monday; Iran next face Belgium in Inglewood on Sunday before meeting Egypt on June 26.