Despite facing shortened training sessions and less than a day to prepare in Los Angeles, Iran managed to hold their own against the formidable Belgium squad. Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand showcased remarkable saves as Belgium relentlessly attacked their goal. By the end of the match, fans who had initially booed the Iranian national anthem were applauding the team as they left the field. However, head coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed feeling isolated by the other 47 participating nations.
Ghalenoei reportedly posed a question to all the other head coaches and managers, but none of them responded. The nature of the question has not been disclosed, yet the silence clearly upset him.
“We face many challenges, especially off the pitch,” Ghalenoei commented during his post-match press conference. “I asked the 47 other coaches a question, and none of them have responded to me.”
What disappointed Ghalenoei and his team most was the lack of support from both the tournament organizers and other teams.
When asked if he felt any support from other coaches, Ghalenoei replied, “No, I have not seen that. I have not had any reaction from anyone. However, it seems the coach of Belgium mentioned we are here for football and not politics.”
He emphasized that their main grievances related to how the World Cup organizers treated the Iranian team. “I haven’t heard from other coaches; they are busy with their own teams, and we did not receive anything. I would have done [otherwise].”
This criticism comes amid travel restrictions and other difficulties faced by Iran since arriving in North America for the tournament. There were initial doubts about their participation, but the team ultimately relocated their base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico.
Because all three group stage matches are hosted in the United States, Iran must frequently travel between Mexico and the U.S. Following their first game against New Zealand in Los Angeles, the team had to return immediately to Mexico—unlike their opponents, who were allowed to stay an extra day before heading back to their base.
The Iranian players have expressed appreciation for the warm reception from the Mexican people, who have made them feel at home while based in Tijuana.
Despite their expectations, after matches, the team has experienced continued challenges. Ghalenoei described Iran as “the most oppressed” team at the 2026 World Cup. Ahead of the game against Belgium, FIFA attempted to facilitate the team’s entry into the U.S. earlier to allow proper preparation.
“They [FIFA] phoned me asking if we were ready to take a flight at 6 pm. I welcomed that, but we waited and waited. By 7 pm, nothing happened, and then they apologized saying it wasn’t possible. That affects us mentally, especially me as the head coach,” Ghalenoei explained.
He acknowledged FIFA’s efforts but noted they had not fully succeeded in alleviating the team’s difficulties.
Reports suggest that arrangements may improve for Iran’s final group-stage match against Egypt, with permission granted to fly into Seattle two days ahead of the game. So far, however, the team has usually arrived less than a day before their matches.
Despite these obstacles, Iran secured a valuable point against one of the tournament’s favorites. Forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh viewed the result as a testament to the team’s resilience and character.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh Reflects on Iran’s Draw Against Belgium
Few expected much from Iran following their remarkable comeback draw against New Zealand in their opening game. Facing a star-studded Belgium lineup including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku was a daunting challenge. Yet after 90 minutes, Iran earned respect not only from outsiders but from their own supporters.
Reactions to the Iranian national anthem during the first two games were mixed—ranging from jeers and cheers against New Zealand to loud boos against Belgium. However, as the Belgium match progressed, the crowd’s attitude shifted, especially in response to Beiranvand’s multiple saves.
“We take both,” Jahanbakhsh said when commenting on the varied responses.
“Every team experiences good days and bad days. We play for all Iranians, whether inside or outside the country, regardless of ideology or preferences, and we want to make them proud. At the end of the day, I’m sure they love Team Mali from the heart, and we respect them all.”
The stadium erupted with cheers when Mehdi Taremi scored, though the goal was later disallowed by VAR, provoking boos. This pattern continued with Belgium receiving a red card. Despite some promising chances, Iran was unable to capitalize fully on those moments.
“The most important thing for us as a team is to perform well, put our heart into the game, and do everything to please our supporters,” Jahanbakhsh added.
“For everything else, we respect people regardless of their opinions. Ultimately, the best thing we can do is play football and hope we do it to the best of our ability.”
With two points from two matches, Iran remains in contention for a place in the knockout stages. Regardless of whether off-field challenges improve, Amir Ghalenoei’s squad has demonstrated their capability to compete with the tournament’s elite teams.