The BBC published a report questioning the treatment received by the Iranian team during the 2026 World Cup. The Iranian team said goodbye in the group stage after finishing third in Group G, behind Belgium and Egypt, with 3 points and a goal difference of zero.
“For every moment of glory, there is a story of misfortune, a nation forced to lament its misfortune and the injustices that led to its downfall. However, few stories compare to the cruelty with which Iran ended its participation in the 2026 tournament,” noted the British network.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei claimed on several occasions that the host country treated them unequally. According to their statements, the delegation faced challenges before the opening whistle: denied visas, inability to remain in the United States, constant travel and forced returns to Tijuana, Mexico, late at night. In addition, he indicated that they received less than half of the necessary training time.
“We were the most oppressed,” Ghalenoei said, adding: “I am proud of them. What these players did should go down in history, because the host country treated us very unfairly. Despite all these problems, we managed to play well, and the world is proud of the Iranians and our team.”
The coach urged FIFA not to allow hosts to treat teams differently in future World Cups. Iran was one step away from qualifying for the round of 32: Senegal advanced with 3 points and a difference of +2 in Group I.
After the 1-1 draw with Egypt on the third round of Group G, the Iranian delegation left a message in the locker room at Lumen Field in Seattle. The text alluded to fair play and honor, in apparent reference to the possible agreement between teams competing for a place among the eight best third parties, especially the 3-3 draw between Algeria and Austria in Group J.
