2026 World Cup: Iran earns tie — and immediately needs to leave U.S.

by · The Seattle Times

The Iran national team had a deadline. Despite an 8 p.m. kickoff as part of the Friday’s final slate of FIFA Men’s World Cup games, coach Amir Ghalenoei’s team needed to catch a flight. Their single-entry visas — which were extended to allow Iran to arrive in the United States 48 hours before its game with Egypt — still mandated they depart as soon as possible after the final whistle. 

Yet Iran still made time to perform a lap of honor, applauding the fans in attendance, before disappearing down the tunnel at Seattle Stadium. They had a flight to catch. 

“I know (Gianni Infantino), the FIFA president, has tried his best to minimize our problems as much as possible,” Ghalenoei said in Farsi. “But it was the host that wasn’t very good to us. Please. I urge FIFA. Don’t let hosts treat players and teams the same way in future World Cups. And I hope Mr. Infantino will actually stand up to such behavior.” 

The veteran coach’s comments after Iran and Egypt’s 1-1 draw at Seattle Stadium on Friday evening reiterated complaints Ghalenoei, his players and the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) have lodged about their treatment during the 2026 World Cup. The celebration of soccer being hosted by a country involved in an ongoing military conflict with one of the visiting participants. 

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“People want to watch football,” Ghalenoei said. “They want football to bring nations, cultures, together. You saw today two countries with such ancient civilizations, how they were encouraging each other. This is what’s good to see. This is what’s important. Be it with the United States or any other team, we’ll be happy. 

“Just as Mr. Infantino has said in many (news) conferences. Football brings people, nations, together. It brings joy. It should be separate from politics. But unfortunately, we didn’t see that in this World Cup.”

Iran’s place at the 2026 World Cup has been in question since Feb. 28, when joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — about 100 days before Iran’s first game at Los Angeles Stadium, formerly known as SoFi Stadium, in Inglewood, Calif. 

Infantino affirmed Iran was still going to participate in the tournament on April 15, and Ghalenoei’s team relocated their training base from Tucson, Ariz., to Tijuana, Mexico, in May. 

All 26 players on Iran’s roster, Ghalenoei and several assistant coaches were all approved for single-entry visas for each of their games, but federation officials, analysts and media officials were barred from entering. Ghalenoei said Iran didn’t play any friendly exhibitions in North America, instead playing a youth team in Tijuana while other teams got to acclimate to the new continent with high-level opposition. 

And despite being closer to their first two games of the group stage, both hosted in Inglewood, travel issues have continued to be chief among Iran’s complaints. 

For its first two games in Southern California, Iran was allowed to enter the United States only for a period of 24 hours before the game. The FFIRI announced it planned to lodge an official complaint over Iran’s treatment throughout the tournament, and the U.S. allowed Iran to travel to Seattle on Wednesday, 48 hours before its game against Egypt, though Ghalenoei’s team still had to leave immediately after the game. 

Star striker Mehdi Taremi and an assistant coach were reportedly delayed 25 minutes while traveling to Seattle according to a statement by the FFIRI on Wednesday. Taremi complained about travel situation on Friday, saying “it’s not fair, in our opinion.” 

“Who wants to help us?” Taremi said in English after Friday’s game. “If they want us to be out, OK, let’s be out. Let’s get out. But that’s not fair. We don’t have recovery. We don’t have any logistic people here to help us. We always complain about these things, but no one helps.” 

Regardless of the logistical and bureaucratic obstacles they faced, Iran completed an unbeaten run through Group G. They drew with New Zealand 2-2 on June 15, then pulled off a remarkable 0-0 draw with Belgium on Sunday. 

Against Egypt, Iran went behind early after a fifth-minute goal from Mahmoud Saber, but struck back with a 14th-minute equalizer after right wingback Ramin Rezaeian pounced on a shot that was parried by Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. 

Iran had the better chances to win the game, too, hitting the goal frame twice and having a potential last-second winner overturned by video-assistant replay for an extremely close offside call. Taremi also missed a penalty. 

Now, Iran will again have to wait. With three points and a goal differential of zero, it still has a chance to qualify for knockout stage depending on Saturday’s results. 

“My people in Iran deserve more than everything,” Rezaeian said in English. “They deserve more happiness. They deserve everything. Now, we did our best just for our people. Hope in the future, the next few days, that God sees what the players offer. What the players sacrificed during the game. Let’s see what’s going on. I hope God sees us and what we deserve, because we showed our quality.”