Iran Coach Amir Ghalenoei Slams US Treatment Ahead of Belgium FIFA World Cup 2026 Match
Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei has accused the host United States of unfair treatment, including travel restrictions and visa refusals, at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The controversy comes ahead of Iran's crucial Group G match against Belgium on June 21, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, following their opening 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei has publicly decried what he perceives as unfair treatment from co-host United States at the FIFA World Cup 2026, ahead of a crucial Group G encounter against Belgium. Ghalenoei's remarks highlight persistent issues with travel restrictions and visa refusals, despite optimism that FIFA will intervene to ease some of these strictures in the coming week. FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule Today (June 22): Timings in IST, Venues, Groups.
"Our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup," Ghalenoei stated to Associated Press, revealing that the team has been forced to operate under constraints not faced by other participating nations. The Iranian squad is based in Tijuana, Mexico, necessitating frequent cross-border travel for their matches held in the U.S. This logistical challenge has been compounded by US authorities permitting the team to remain in the country for only a few hours after each game, with last-minute changes to travel arrangements.
Visa Denials and Training Disruptions
The coach elaborated on the impact of these restrictions, including visa denials for key support staff, media relations personnel, and even the head of Iran's football federation. "You invite a team, but you don't let in their support staff, their backroom staff?" Ghalenoei questioned, highlighting the detrimental effect on team preparation. He noted that a request to travel earlier for their second match was denied, forcing them to cut a training session short. While Ghalenoei expressed gratitude for FIFA's attempts to mediate, he stressed that the situation remains unresolved and impacts team morale and performance.
Team Melli opened their World Cup campaign with a 2-2 draw against New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium. Their next challenge sees them face a formidable Belgian side, currently ranked 10th in the FIFA world rankings. Will Lamine Yamal Play in Spain vs Saudi Arabia FIFA World Cup 2026 Match?.
Match Details: Iran vs. Belgium
| Fixture | Date | Kick-off (ET) | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran vs Belgium | June 21, 2026 | 3:00 PM ET | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | Group G Matchday 2 |
Team Form and Head-to-Head
Iran's Recent Form (Last 5 matches):
June 15, 2026: Iran 2-2 New Zealand (FIFA World Cup Group G)
June 4, 2026: Iran played Mali to a draw (Friendly)
May 29, 2026: Iran 3-1 Gambia (Friendly)
March 31, 2026: Costa Rica played Iran to a draw (Friendly)
March 27, 2026: Iran 1-2 Nigeria (Friendly)
Belgium's Recent Form (Last 5 matches):
June 15, 2026: Belgium 1-1 Egypt (FIFA World Cup Group G, Seattle Stadium)
Prior to the World Cup, Belgium showed strong form with wins over Tunisia (5-0) and Croatia (2-0). Their recent form (last 6 matches prior to the June 15 World Cup match) showed 4 wins, 2 draws, and 0 losses, scoring 21 goals and conceding 4.
Head-to-Head:
Iran and Belgium have never met in senior international football prior to this FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G clash, making this a historic first encounter.
Despite the off-field distractions, Ghalenoei remains hopeful that FIFA's intervention will lead to improved conditions for the Iranian squad, especially for their third group game against Egypt in Seattle. The team's performance against Belgium will be critical in their quest to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 21, 2026 03:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
