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Iran's World Cup team faced an abrupt order to depart the United States for their training base in Mexico just hours after concluding their politically charged opening match against New Zealand. Coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed deep concern and confusion over the directive, stating that the team was not given adequate time for recovery. The team drew 2-2 with New Zealand on Monday night but was instructed immediately after the game to board a plane for the 140-mile journey back to Tijuana, Mexico. "They didn’t even give us time to recover," Ghalenoei said through an interpreter. "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."

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They didn’t even give us time to recover. 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.

The Iranians' World Cup preparations have been fraught with difficulties since February 28, when the U.S. and Israel began a war against Iran. Despite FIFA rejecting their request to move their group-stage matches out of the U.S., Iran ultimately decided to compete. Team captain Mehdi Taremi highlighted the arduous travel and security checks the team endured during their initial journey from Tijuana to the Los Angeles area. "We don’t know why they are returning us, to be honest," Ghalenoei added. "I think it’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us. The decision-making for us is being made elsewhere."

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We don’t know why they are returning us, to be honest. I think it’s very strange. It seems like others are doing the planning for us. The decision-making for us is being made elsewhere.

Adding to their challenges, several key staff members, including the president of Iran's football federation, coaching support personnel, and media officials, were denied U.S. visas. This lack of essential support amplified the team's difficult preparations. "We have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it’s not good for us," Taremi stated shortly after the match. "I think FIFA have to help us more than this. ... Everything is like a disaster, actually, for us." Ghalenoei attributed cramps experienced by several players during the game to the lack of proper preparation time, exacerbated by these bureaucratic and diplomatic obstacles. "Before the game, I said we haven’t had time to adjust because of the travel," he explained. "Many of our players, they had cramps, and that’s why we had to substitute them. So it wasn’t for technical reasons that we made substitutions. It was because of the injury and because of the cramp."

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We have to leave Los Angeles right now, and it’s not good for us. I think FIFA have to help us more than this. ... Everything is like a disaster, actually, for us.