The Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) has announced its intention to lodge an official complaint with FIFA regarding travel arrangements for the World Cup, which involve travel between its base camp in Mexico and games in the United States. In a statement, FFIRI accused FIFA of taking an "inconsistent" approach to qualifying on "equal terms for all participating teams" ahead of their second Group G game in Los Angeles against Belgium on 21 June. To ensure optimal preparation for the games, "the team needed to arrive in each city two days before each match and return to their base camp the following day," the statement said. The FFIRI revealed that this request was not met before their opening game against New Zealand, which ended in a 2-2 draw, with players and staff required to immediately return to their base camp in Mexico after the final whistle. "The same situation repeated itself before Iran's second game against Belgium," the statement continued. "As a result, the national team will only be able to travel to Los Angeles one day before the game. We went to Tijuana to go behind the scenes at Iran's training camp. Consequently, the federation will formally express its displeasure and file an official complaint with FIFA." Athletic has contacted FIFA for comment. Iran is based in Tijuana, Mexico, for the tournament, after announcing the move from its initially planned base camp in Arizona on May 25. It's
This change followed the ongoing military conflict between the US and Iran, which began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched joint military strikes, provoking retaliatory action by Iran. All three of Iran's group games are scheduled to take place in the US, with the first two matches to be played in Los Angeles and the third in Seattle. Regardless of the position they occupy in Group G, Iran will play in the USA or Canada, if they advance to the knockouts, without playing any matches in Mexico, given the format of the tournament. This statement comes after criticism of Iran's travel arrangements directed at FIFA by coach Amir Ghalenoei, following his team's draw with New Zealand. "Our team is the most oppressed of the entire World Cup," Ghalenoei told reporters through an interpreter. "Our president is not here, our media is not here, many of our management members are not here." An FFIRI official told the Athletic that 11 staff members were denied entry into the U.S. ahead of the New Zealand game. Striker Mehdi Taremi commented to the press that "everything is like a disaster for us", while he and the scorer of one of the goals, Mohammad Mohebbi, said that the team were unable to hold a recovery session in LA the day after the game, but were informed that they could not. FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited Iran's dressing room after the game, telling them: "I
I know what you go through... but you are stronger than anything, and you send a strong message to the whole world.