Amir Ghalenoei

Amir Ghalenoei — Iran national soccer team coach at 2026 World Cup, criticized US travel restrictions and unfair treatment of his squad.

2026-05-222026-10-28

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Amir Ghalenoei

Every mention in the Ghanaian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

July 2026
27 JulJoy Online
… His comments are in stark contradiction to those of Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei, who said his team were the “most oppressed” at the World Cup. …
Infantino tells Fifa critics to ‘meditate, pray or watch football’
22 JulThe Ghanaian Times
… Coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team were the “most oppressed” at the World Cup. US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said he “danced a happy dance” when Iran were knocked out. …
Ceferin skipped World Cup final over disapproval of FIFA
June 2026
29 JunThe Chronicle
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei says his nation have been treated “unfairly” by the United States during the World Cup and called on Fifa to intervene in the future. …
We have been treated unfairly by USA – Iran
24 JunJoy Online
… That prompted Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei to describe his side as the “most oppressed” team at the tournament. …
World Cup: Iran’s US entry terms changed for final group game
22 JunJoy Online
… This led Iran to head coach Amir Ghalenoei saying they are the “most oppressed” team at the tournament following the draw with New Zealand. …
World Cup: Iran leave note asking for peace after Belgium draw
22 JunThe Ghanaian Times
… Iran are unhappy at restrictions that mean they can only travel to venues within 24 hours of their fixtures and must depart back to their training base in Tijuana, Mexico directly after each game, with coach Amir Ghalenoei suggesting his side were “the most oppressed team in th …
US defends Iran World Cup travel restrictions
17 JunJoy Online
… Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei expressed frustration regarding the logistical constraints placed upon his players. …
Iran soccer team ordered to depart US immediately after World Cup matches
17 JunThe Chronicle
… Coach Amir Ghalenoei didn’t say who ordered the Iranians to leave earlier than planned. …
Iran coach says team ordered out of US right after World Cup opener
15 JunJoy Online
… Head coach Amir Ghalenoei acknowledged that the preparation process had compromised the squad’s technical focus. …
Iran soccer team arrives in US for World Cup opener as two nations reach peace deal
May 2026
22 MayThe Ghanaian Times
… The team trained in Antalya earlier this week as coach Amir Ghalenoei attempted ⁠to prepare his squad after most domestic-based players went seven weeks without competitive soccer during the suspension of the Iranian league. …
Iran players apply for U.S., Canada visas ahead of World Cup

Sport

Infantino dismisses FIFA critics via social media post

The News

FIFA president Gianni Infantino told critics to "meditate, pray or watch a football match" instead of spreading criticism about his leadership and the World Cup. He claimed FIFA delivered the "greatest event on earth" and praised the 2026 tournament's safety and unity, including Iran's participation, contradicting accounts from Iran's head coach who said his team were the "most oppressed" at the World Cup.

27 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 27 July

Infantino dismisses FIFA critics via social media post
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told critics to "meditate, pray or watch a football match" instead of spreading criticism about his leadership and the World Cup. He claimed FIFA delivered the "greatest event on earth" and praised the 2026 tournament's safety and unity, including Iran's participation, contradicting accounts from Iran's head coach who said his team were the "most oppressed" at the World Cup.
27 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 22 July

UEFA chief boycotts World Cup final in FIFA protest
UEFA head Aleksander Ceferin skipped the World Cup final to protest FIFA's decisions, including suspending a red card for a US striker after President Trump's intervention and its handling of referee and team treatment issues during the tournament.
22 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Monday 29 June

Iran coach says team treated unfairly at World Cup
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei accused the United States of treating his team "unfairly" during the World Cup, citing travel restrictions that required the squad to enter the country only the day before matches and leave the same day for their first two games in Los Angeles. Ghalenoei called on FIFA to prevent hosts from imposing similar restrictions on teams in future tournaments.
29 June 2026 · The Chronicle →

Wednesday 24 June

US grants Iran extra day before World Cup final group game
The US Department of Homeland Security has allowed Iran's football team to travel to Seattle two days before their final World Cup group-stage match against Egypt on 26 June, an extra day beyond the 24-hour window they'd been granted for their first two games. The change follows Iran's complaint to FIFA about unfair treatment and visa restrictions that had previously limited the squad to entering the US only the day before matches and leaving the same day.
24 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 22 June

Iran leaves peace message after Belgium World Cup draw
Iran left a handwritten note in their dressing room after a goalless draw with Belgium, saying "may peace, respect, and friendship prevail among all nations." The message referenced Iran's pride and dignity, thanked Los Angeles for hospitality, and made reference to an attack on a girls' school in Minab that killed at least 168 people on the first day of the war.
22 June 2026 · Joy Online →
US maintains Iran World Cup travel restrictions despite team complaint
The United States says it will continue assessing Iran's World Cup travel arrangements, which restrict the team to venues within 24 hours of their fixtures and require them to return to their training base in Tijuana after each game. Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force, defended the measures and said a shift from Tucson to Tijuana reduced Iran's travel time, while some team officials remain without visas.
22 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Wednesday 17 June

Iran soccer team ordered to leave US after each World Cup match
The Iranian national soccer team must depart the United States within hours of completing their remaining World Cup group stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. Iran's coach expressed frustration that the requirement prevents players from using standard post-match recovery time, though US officials say the policy follows established procedures for national security.
17 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Iran coach says team ordered out of US after World Cup match
Iran's World Cup coach reported that the team was ordered to leave the United States and return to its training base in Mexico only hours after playing a 2-2 draw with New Zealand, forgoing planned recovery time in California.
17 June 2026 · The Chronicle →

Monday 15 June

Iran soccer team arrives in US for World Cup after peace deal
Iran's national soccer team landed in Los Angeles on Sunday to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the same day Washington and Tehran announced a peace agreement ending a four-month war. The squad had previously been exiled to Mexico after U.S.-Israeli military strikes on Iran raised uncertainty about Iran's participation.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 22 May

Iran squad applies for visas ahead of 2026 World Cup
Iran's national soccer team attended visa appointments in Ankara on Thursday, with the whole squad applying for Canadian visas and some players also submitting U.S. applications, ahead of the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The team will play all group-stage matches in the United States and would need access to Canada if they progress to the knockout rounds.
22 May 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →