Iran’s national team will face Belgium on Sunday night in its second World Cup match, after drawing 2-2 with New Zealand. The buildup has been overshadowed by travel and scheduling problems, with coach Amir Kalanawi saying, “We are the team that suffers from the worst treatment in the tournament.”
Iran has been training in Mexico while its matches are being played in the United States, which means the squad can enter U.S. territory only one day before each game and must return immediately afterward to its base in Tijuana. During one of its final training sessions, the team was forced to leave the practice field midway through.
Kalanawi said he had asked for 24 hours in Los Angeles before the Belgium match, but FIFA did not keep its promise. “It is going to affect us, it is infuriating,” he said. “I am the head coach. I want to focus on the technical and tactical matters, not travel arrangements.”
There is some optimism in the Iranian camp that restrictions will be eased before the final group match against Egypt, described as the “pride match” meant to celebrate LGBTQ rights between two Muslim countries. Kalanawi said he had been told the team would get free time before that game, adding, “In the first matches that was not possible. I asked the other 47 coaches the same question, and none of them answered me.”
