Iran coach says team ordered to leave US immediately after opener

Iran national football team head coach Amir Ghalenoei has criticised the travel arrangements for his squad at the FIFA World Cup, claiming the team was instructed to leave the United States immediately after its opening match against New Zealand.

Speaking after Monday night's fixture, Ghalenoei said the team had expected to remain in Los Angeles overnight and conduct a recovery session the following day. However, he alleged that players were told to depart shortly after the match and return to their training base in Mexico.

“We spent so much time in the air commuting, they didn't even give us time to recover,” Ghalenoei said through an interpreter, according to ESPN. “After the game today, they said to us: ‘You have to leave immediately.’”

The coach did not specify who had issued the instruction. However, Iran captain Mehdi Taremi revealed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the team in the dressing room after the match.