Iran's national soccer team says it was instructed to leave the United States immediately after its opening World Cup match and return to Mexico, despite planning to stay overnight in California. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said the order was received after the game but did not specify who issued it. The claim has not been confirmed by U.S. officials.
Iran's national soccer team claims it was ordered to depart the United States immediately after its opening World Cup match on Tuesday and return to Mexico, according to head coach Amir Ghalenoei. The team had planned to stay overnight in California. Ghalenoei told reporters that players and staff were instructed to board a flight back to Tijuana shortly after the game, adding: "I think our team is perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup." He did not name the authority that issued the order or explain why plans were changed.
The claim comes after a prolonged visa dispute that delayed the team's entry into the US ahead of the tournament. As The Zioneer reported on June 7, the US visa agreement initially restricted the team to entering the US only on match days and returning to Mexico immediately. US Homeland Security later permitted the team to enter the country a day before each match. The team had since been training and living in Southern California before fixtures. No U.S. official statement confirming Tuesday's order has been released.
Championship context: the team's opening match opponent was not specified in the announcement.
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