The Economic Times

US official says Iran knew team would have to leave the country shortly after World Cup match

The United States has defended its handling of Irans World Cup travel arrangements after the team complained it was forced to leave immediately after its opening match instead of staying overnight for recovery. US officials said the schedule was pre-decided, requiring teams to depart on match day and return to their base camps shortly after games. Irans coach and captain criticised the arrangement, citing disrupted recovery routines and visa-related issues affecting staff and players, while US authorities maintained that entry rules and security considerations were being strictly followed.