The United States has contested complaints from Iran’s national soccer team regarding their post-match arrangements following the opening game of the FIFA World Cup. Iran’s team expressed frustration that they were required to leave the United States immediately after their 2-2 draw against New Zealand, rather than remaining overnight in California to recover.

Iran’s head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, said the team had anticipated staying in the U.S. at a hotel to facilitate the usual recovery process after their initial match. Instead, he stated, they were instructed to return to their training base in Mexico only a few hours after the game concluded. Additionally, Iran winger Mehdi Torabi faced visa issues, with his entry visa expiring following the first match. Team officials indicated they were working to secure a new visa for Torabi to enable his participation in upcoming games.

In response, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, affirmed that the team's travel and accommodation plans had been clarified in advance and that the immediate departure was consistent with established arrangements. Speaking during an interview broadcast on CBS News, Giuliani confirmed that all Iranian players and coaches had been granted visas to enter the United States. However, he acknowledged that some of the team’s support personnel and officials were denied entry due to visa restrictions. Giuliani further explained the conditions under which the Iranian delegation would be permitted entry into the country for matches, underscoring adherence to U.S. immigration regulations.

The contrasting accounts highlight the logistical complexities involved in hosting international teams during the tournament, particularly under stringent visa and travel policies. While Iran’s camp emphasized the disruption to their recovery routine and visa challenges, U.S. officials maintained that protocols were communicated and followed as planned.