Iran football team denounces US travel hurdles at World Cup

The Iranian national football team issued a statement after its group‑stage exit, accusing the United States of creating "unnecessary obstacles" that forced the squad to travel from the World Cup base in Tijuana into the US for each match and to remain there only briefly before and after games. The federation said the restrictions disadvantaged the team and undermined the spirit of football, calling the tournament "one of the most controversial and catastrophic World Cups in history." The statement also criticised US Interior Security Minister Markwayne Mullin’s comments praising Iran’s elimination, describing the U.S. authorities’ treatment of the Iranian delegation as "unprofessional and uncivilized."