Iran World Cup team ordered out of US right after opener

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The coach of the Iranian soccer team said that his team had to leave the U.S. shortly after its 2-2 draw against New Zealand to open the FIFA World Cup.

Amir Ghalenoei said that officials did not give his team time to “recover” from the match before ordering them to return to Tijuana, Mexico. The Iranians are staying in Tijuana, which is a short flight from southern California — where the team played on Monday and will compete in its second game against Belgium on Sunday.

“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 are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that,” Ghalenoei said through an interpreter, according to The Associated Press (AP).

Ghalenoei did not say who ordered his team to depart the U.S. back to Mexico.

While all 31 Iranian players and their coaches received visas, multiple members of the team’s traveling party did not. The World Cup is taking place against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which may be coming to a close if a tentative agreement to end hostilities holds.

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