“So many unfair things" - Iran physiotherapist reveals issues the squad faced after during their first FIFA World Cup clash in USA

× The physiotherapist for Iran's national football team has revealed the issues that the squad faced in the United States during their first clash of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ad The USA are currently embroiled in a war with Iran. Owing to this, the Iranian football team has been placed under strict restrictions during the World Cup.

Their base camp, originally meant to be set up in Arizona, was moved to Tijuana, a Mexican city on the border with the United States. They flew into the US for their first game of Group G, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on Monday (June 15). Ad Trending Although Iran were initially allowed to exit the USA on the day after a game, they were rushed out of the country immediately after their opening fixture.

With all three of their Group G games at American venues, a number of safety concerns and questions about unfair treatment have been raised. Paulo Alexandre Araujo, a physiotherapist with Team Melli, has lifted the lid on the issues that they have faced at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking to the New York Times, Araujo said (via HITC): Ad "There were so many unfair things, you know.

When you get players waiting in the airport, like two, three hours, and arriving and being surrounded by guys with machine guns and all this, they are not used to it." Araujo claimed that he could not have his players take ice baths for 12 minutes, like he prefers, due to the rush in getting the squad out of the US. He added: Ad "It's like throw them in [the ice bath], come out and take a shower, and go fast because the information was that we have to leave immediately.

It took more than three hours to get inside the plane... Nobody cares. This is no way to treat sportsmen when you talk about fair competition."

As it stands, Iran will have to travel in and out of the USA for their upcoming FIFA World Cup games as well. They will face off against Belgium in Los Angeles (June 21) and against Egypt in Seattle (June 26). Ad "Our team is the most repressed" - Iran manager's claim about USA's strict regulations at 2026 FIFA World Cup After his side's 2-2 draw against New Zealand (June 15), Iran boss Amir Ghalenoei claimed that his team is the 'most repressed' at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Ghalenoei said (via Sportskeeda h/t ESPN): Ad "We spent so much time in the air commuting, they didn't even give us time to recover. After the game today, they said to us, 'You have to leave immediately. It's very important for us to have time for recovery, but we've been told to return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that.

I think perhaps our team is the most repressed team in the whole World Cup."If Iran progress into the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there is a chance they could face the USA, in what would be a highly controversial affair. The fixture would only be possible if both the sides finish second in their respective groups.

× Was this article helpful? Thank You for feedback Quick Links More from Sportskeeda Edited by Aaryan Nagraj The physiotherapist for Iran's national football team has revealed the issues that the squad faced in the United States during their first clash of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Ad The USA are currently embroiled in a war with Iran.

Owing to this, the Iranian football team has been placed under strict restrictions during the World Cup. Their base camp, originally meant to be set up in Arizona, was moved to Tijuana, a Mexican city on the border with the United States. They flew into the US for their first game of Group G, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on Monday (June 15).

Ad Trending Although Iran were initially allowed to exit the USA on the day after a game, they were rushed out of the country immediately after their opening fixture. With all three of their Group G games at American venues, a number of safety concerns and questions about unfair treatment have been raised. Paulo Alexandre Araujo, a physiotherapist with Team Melli, has lifted the lid on the issues that they have faced at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to the New York Times, Araujo said (via HITC): Ad "There were so many unfair things, you know. When you get players waiting in the airport, like two, three hours, and arriving and being surrounded by guys with machine guns and all this, they are not used to it." Araujo claimed that he could not have his players take ice baths for 12 minutes, like he prefers, due to the rush in getting the squad out of the US.

He added: Ad "It's like throw them in [the ice bath], come out and take a shower, and go fast because the information was that we have to leave immediately. It took more than three hours to get inside the plane... Nobody cares.

This is no way to treat sportsmen when you talk about fair competition." As it stands, Iran will have to travel in and out of the USA for their upcoming FIFA World Cup games as well. They will face