Iran delegation has difficulty leaving the USA after World Cup debut A few days after the start of the World Cup, Iran's football team has faced a series of difficulties in competing in the tournament in the United States. ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp Among the main obstacles faced by the Iranians are problems with the delegation's visas, revoked fan tickets and complex logistics before and after each game. This reality arises from the politicization of the Iranian presence in the tournament due to the war between the USA and Iran. The conflict saw a peace agreement signed between the two countries at the beginning of the week, but tensions remain. Entering and exiting the US with each match The Iranian team's struggles became more evident with their World Cup debut, in a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles. The team had to leave the USA in the early hours of Monday (15), a few hours after departure, as ordered by the Trump administration — but faced difficulties due to visa problems for some members of the delegation. The different treatment given to the Iranians generated an outburst from coach Amir Ghalenoei directly to FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, during a rare visit by the director to the team's dressing room after the game. Ghalenoei said the team is suffering "injustice" and a "lack of humanity" from the host country. "We were the most attacked team in the World Cup, because of the conditions and the effect they created for us, and that was an injustice. (...) We don't know why they are sending us back [to Mexico], we need to recover after the game, but they forced us to get on the plane and come back," said Ghalenoei. The Iranian players received visas to compete in the World Cup just a week before the start of the tournament, and the delegation can only enter the US 36 hours before each match and must leave the country immediately after each game. The team would initially be based in Tucson, Arizona, but had to move its base to Tijuana, Mexico. Protests in the street, support in the stadium and frustration on the field: See how Iran's debut at the World Cup went Check out the updated World Cup TABLE FIFA President goes to Iran's dressing room, and coach says: "We suffered an injustice" Iran fans had tickets banned Fans at Tijuana International Airport, in Mexico, welcome the Iran national team upon arrival for the World Cup, on June 7, 2026 Victor Medina/Reuters The Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) reported that its quota of tickets for the competition was withdrawn by the USA just two days before the start of the World Cup, on June 9. Like the other 47 participants in the tournament, Iran was entitled to an 8% share of tickets for their matches to distribute to their fans. The decision alienated the Iranian federation from this right, and left fans who had already made travel plans unable to attend the Iranian national team's matches. “This is despite the fact that many Iranian fans, trusting the officially announced process, had already made the necessary plans to attend the games,” FFIRI said in a statement. As a result, only the presence of Iranian fans at the games was limited to those already in the USA. The North American country is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran, with around 630,000 people. Donald Trump's government had already banned Iranians from entering the USA during the World Cup. The same happens with the citizens of Haiti, which also competes in the football tournament. Controversies at the premiere Iran national team captain, Mehdi Taremi. Reuters/Kiyoshi Mio The Iranian team's debut in the World Cup was also surrounded by other controversies: Fans reported that their flags were confiscated inside the stadium; Iranians staged protests against the ayatollahs' regime outside the game venue. Iran's anthem was booed by the public when it was played before the match; The day before the match, captain Mehdi Taremi protested to journalists present at a press conference for not having received any questions about football, only about geopolitics. READ ALSO: Can the USA and Iran face each other in the World Cup? See confrontation chances Iran players wear brooch referring to those killed in US attack on school; PHOTOS