‘We are the most oppressed team at the World Cup!”

It was supposed to be a celebration of football, the pinnacle of an athlete's career. But in the case of the Iranian national team, it was clear from the start that it would not be that way on American soil. Regardless of the fact that peace negotiations appear to be moving in the right direction, it was obvious the Iranians would not receive the same welcome in the United States as the other World Cup participants. Iran will play its matches in California, and the team was originally supposed to be based in neighboring Arizona. Instead, local authorities informed them that they would only be allowed to enter the United States on match days. Immediately afterward, they would have to return to Tijuana, Mexico, which they were forced to select as the closest alternative base camp.

Clinical New Zealand and Resilient Iran share the spoils in exciting draw, leaving Group G wide open

Unsurprisingly, the Iranians are unhappy with the treatment they have received from the World Cup hosts. After their draw with New Zealand, they made no effort to hide their frustration.

"For us, everything here has been a disaster, to be honest. We were supposed to have a recovery training session tomorrow morning and then travel to Tijuana afterward. But it turns out we have to leave Los Angeles immediately. That's not good for us. It's not good for football either, because at a World Cup you need time to prepare properly for the next match. We're under a lot of stress here, all of us together. But we don't have that kind of support. FIFA should have helped us more... This is bad. We're tired. You know yourselves what we've been through over the last month or two. All of it affects us," said Mehdi Taremi, Iran's biggest star.

Taremi also revealed that the players personally asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino why they were being forced out of the United States. And what did Infantino tell them after visiting the dressing room to offer congratulations and encouragement?

"He just wants to help us. He said this is only the beginning of the World Cup and that he wants to help us. We can only trust him." The question is how much Infantino can actually do. In the United States, the final say belongs to Donald Trump, who before the tournament reportedly suggested that Iran would be better off not participating "for their own safety and security." Problems were therefore hardly unexpected. Around ten members of the Iranian delegation were reportedly unable to enter the country after being denied visas.

The team's reception was not especially warm either. Many Iranians living in the United States who oppose the current government in Tehran and support Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last shah, wanted to protest against what they see as the regime's brutal suppression of dissent, even before the conflict with the United States escalated. They carried flags featuring the red lion and sun rather than the current national emblem. Many openly hoped for an Iranian defeat. Some even referred to the players as a "terrorist team" controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Still, it was not quite as hostile as some in Washington might have hoped. Once the match began, there was a sense that the majority of the crowd was actually supporting the Iranian players. That did little to ease their difficulties. Mohammad Mohebi, the Rostov winger, simply said that the players were exhausted and that such treatment was unfair.

USA police humiliate the Uruguay national team

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei was even more direct.

"They told us we had to leave immediately. It genuinely affects us. Honestly, we don't even know why they're sending us back. Everything here feels very strange. It's as if someone else is making our plans for us. Our team is the most oppressed at this entire World Cup. Our federation president isn't here. Our media aren't here. Not even our full management team is here. Every day they make things more difficult for us and create new obstacles, but they won't stop us from giving everything we have" he said.

Infantino confirms Iran's participation at the World Cup

Back to Infantino, who before the tournament famously promised that, if necessary, he would personally get on a bus and bring Iran's team from Tehran to the United States.

"I know what you're going through. I understand everything. But you're stronger than all of this. You're sending a powerful message to the entire world" Infantino reportedly told the players in the dressing room, while Ghalenoei replied that FIFA itself needed to be equally strong if everything was to be handled properly. Meanwhile, FIFA officials reportedly tried to shorten interviews with Iranian players, who were unwilling to stay silent. Then again, what could FIFA really do? In the United States, Donald Trump sets the tone, and sympathy for the Iranian team is hardly considered one of his defining traits. Nor is football his favorite sport. Given all that, can anyone really blame Iran for managing "only" a 2–2 draw against New Zealand?

WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE

Monday, 15.06.

Ivory Coast - Ecuador 1-0 (0-0)

/Diallo 90/

Sweden - Tunisia 5-1 (2-1)

/Ayari 7, 90+6, Isak 30, Gyokeres , Svanberg 84 - Rekik 43/

Spain - Cabo Verde 0-0

Belgium - Egypt 1-1 (0-1)

/Hany 66 og - Ashour 20/

Tuesday 16.06.

Saudi Arabia- Uruguay 1-1 (1-0)

/Amri 41 - Araujo 80/

Iran - New Zealand 2-2 (1-1)

/Ramin 33,Mohebi, 64- Just, 7,54/

22.00: (1.47) France (4.50) Senegal (6.75)

Wednesday

01.00: (12.0) Iraq (6.50) Norway (1.27)

04.00: (1.47) Argentina (4.60) Algeria (8.10)

07.00: (1.40) Austria (5.00) Jordan (9.00)

20.00: (1.30) Portugal (5.20) Dr Congo (11.0)

23.00: (1.75) England (3.90) Croatia (5.00)