Following months of speculation surrounding the Iranian national team and whether or not they would decide to participate in the largely U.S.-hosted 2026 FIFA World Cup amidst the backdrop of war between the nations, Team Melli finally kicked off its tournament on Monday.
Drawn into Group G alongside Egypt , Belgium , and New Zealand , Iran kicked off its campaign against the All Whites at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with the two sides battling fiercely throughout in what proved an enthralling end-to-end game.
Iran came back from a one-goal deficit twice, with Player of the Match Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi both finding the back of the net, while Elijah Just scored both of New Zealand's goals.
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they had to return to Mexico 'immediately' after Monday's game -Credit:Sebastian Frej, Getty Images
Watching on from the stands of the home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Chargers was FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who had long stated that, despite tensions, Iran would participate in the tournament. In fact, when he stated confidently that they would play back in April, U.S. President Donald Trump, a friend of Infantino's, called him "a piece of work" in response.
Following the draw, which saw 30 combined shots taken, Infantino visited the Iranian team in their locker room to deliver a speech. He said, "Tonight was a tough game. With a bit more luck, you win.
"But you showed to your families, to your friends, to your people, to the world, that you are in the World Cup, that you perform, and you have two more games to go. And in these two games that you have to go, you will make again everyone in the world proud of what you do. Thank you for being here.
"I know what you go through. I understand. But you are stronger than everything. And you send a strong message to the entire world. Like tonight, you united the whole stadium here, behind you, behind Team Melli, you are showing to the world and sending such a strong message. So, thank you very much."
While Infantino's message may have been generally positive and an attempt to uplift the Iranian players and staff, it was quickly drowned out by frustration from within the locker room, not least after they were ordered to leave the country and return to their Mexico base , as per head coach Amir Ghalenoei.
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"They didn't even give us time to recover," Ghalenoei said through an interpreter after the game. "After the game today, they said to us, 'You have to leave immediately.'
"It's very important for us to have time for recovery, but we are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that. They delayed our arrivals, and they are forcing us to go back early without time for recovery.
"They are making the situation more and more difficult, facing us with more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best. That's why I think we are the most oppressed team in the World Cup."
The team was originally expected to be based in Arizona, before a last-minute switch to Tijuana, Mexico , was made.
Ghalenoei was clearly not alone in his frustration on Monday, with forward Mehdi Taremi , saying, "FIFA told us you have to go because it's our preparation. It's supposed to be, as I said, tomorrow morning recovery, then we fly to Tijuana, then return to LA again.
Iran forward Mehdi Tarem said after their draw with New Zealand of their situation that 'everything is a disaster' -Credit:Soccrates Images, Getty Images
"But now, right now, we have to go back, and I don't know who, because it's between the federation and FIFA. And also, we don't have that, because we don't have our media, we don't have our president of federation, we don't have vice president, and no one, some staff also, which is so important for us. It doesn't have any communication with the FIFA and for the players.
"As you see, our analyser, for example, have come here doing the job of the media, and you know, everything is a disaster, actually, for us. It's not the right thing for us, but we don't follow the excuse, we're just looking forward, we're having hope for the next two games, and we will do our best for our people, and we bring the joy for our supporters."
Next up for Iran is another game at SoFi Stadium on June 21 against Belgium, before their final group game against Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on June 26.
