Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to intervene against the United States’ conduct as World Cup co-hosts, accusing them of treating his squad “very unfairly” amid logistical disruptions that have plagued their tournament campaign.
The strong criticism came following a dramatic 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle, where Shoja Khalilzadeh saw a stoppage-time winner ruled out for offside and Saeid Ezatolah struck the crossbar. Iran must now wait for other Group G results to discover whether they will reach the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Travel Restrictions and Preparation Denied
Ghalenoei revealed that Iranian authorities denied his team permission to remain in Seattle following the match, forcing them to fly back to their Tijuana base in Mexico at 3am local time. The coach stated that similar restrictions had prevented Iran from arriving two weeks early to acclimatise, which he argued had damaged their physical preparation.
“Had the host country allowed us to arrive two weeks earlier, we would have been more prepared,” Ghalenoei explained. “They were reasonable, rational demands. When you play in a match, physically, scientifically, our bodies are at a low and when you suddenly go on a flight, that actually postpones your recovery.”
This marks the third occasion during the tournament that Iran have been compelled to make the cross-border journey immediately after fixtures. Ghalenoei previously described his side as the “most oppressed” team at the competition, noting that Infantino had visited the dressing room after their opening match against New Zealand to offer support.
“I know Mr Infantino has tried his best to minimise the problems,” Ghalenoei acknowledged. “However, I urge FIFA to not let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future. I hope Mr Infantino will actually stand up to such behaviour.”
Salah Injury Fears Eased
Meanwhile, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan has allayed concerns over captain Mohamed Salah’s fitness ahead of their last-32 clash with Australia in Dallas on Friday. The former Liverpool winger requested substitution shortly before the hour mark during the Iran encounter, triggering fears of a significant problem.
Hassan explained that players rarely ask to leave the pitch unless experiencing discomfort. “I talked to Salah and he said he’s going to be OK and it’s not a big injury,” the coach confirmed. “When I spoke to Salah he assured me he’s going to be OK.”
The Egyptian medical staff will continue monitoring the forward over the coming days, but Hassan expressed confidence that his star player will be available for the knockout fixture.
What Comes Next
Iran’s qualification fate now rests on results elsewhere in Group G. The squad faces an anxious 24-hour wait to learn whether they will advance to face one of the tournament’s top sides in the round of 32.
For Egypt, progression is already secured, but the potential absence or limitation of Salah would significantly impact their prospects against an Australian side that has shown resilience in the group phase.