Iran coach decries U.S. restrictions ahead of Belgium World Cup clash

Iran's national football coach, Amir Ghalenoei, has voiced strong criticism regarding the unequal treatment and restrictive measures imposed by the United States ahead of their 2026 World Cup match against Belgium. Ghalenoei described the situation as highly inconvenient and detrimental to his team's preparation.

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We were going to be given 24 hours before the match, but in the end, we had less than 18 hours, which is why we had to cut the training halfway through. These are certainly very annoying limitations.

According to Ghalenoei, Iran was initially promised 24 hours before the match for preparation, but ended up with less than 18 hours, forcing them to cut training sessions short. He acknowledged that FIFA President Gianni Infantino is working to address these issues, but stated that some problems remain unresolved. "We haven't even been able to finish our training, which makes this whole situation very difficult for us," Ghalenoei said during a press conference.

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We haven't even been able to finish our training, this makes this whole situation very difficult for us. Let's hope people realize that football is a beautiful sport, but they are not treating us well, the conduct has not been the best.

The coach explained that the team was informed about travel arrangements late, and despite their readiness to travel earlier to the U.S. for final preparations, their journey was delayed by an additional day. Ghalenoei asserted that such conduct is hurtful and that no amount of money can compensate for the injustice his people face. He added that these restrictions highlight Iran's status as an oppressed nation, expressing hope for global peace and that such behavior does not become institutionalized.

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These types of behaviors 'hurt our people and although you spend billions of dollars, you will not be able to bring justice to our people.

In contrast, the Belgian team arrived in Los Angeles 48 hours before the match. Ghalenoei emphasized that a tournament like the World Cup should be an event that celebrates humanity and shows respect for all participating teams. He echoed the sentiment of the opposing coach, Rudy Garcia, stating that Iran is in the U.S. for football, not politics, and their complaints stem from the way they have been treated.

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We say exactly the same: we are not here to get involved in politics. Our complaints have to do with the way we have been treated.