Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:18pm on 16 Jun 2026,Tuesday Sports
Iran have criticised their treatment at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being ordered to leave the United States immediately following their 2-2 draw with New Zealand. The team was forced to return to its base in Tijuana, Mexico, despite all its Group G matches being scheduled in the US. Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said the constant travel has disrupted player recovery and preparation. Captain Mehdi Taremi called the situation a “disaster” and urged FIFA to provide more support. Iran's original training base in Arizona was moved to Mexico because of political tensions between Washington and Tehran. The team also faced tight security and protests during its short stay in Los Angeles. (PC: AFP)
