Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has publicly questioned the travel arrangements imposed on his squad during the FIFA World Cup 2026, saying the repeated cross-border commuting between Mexico and the United States has inflicted both physical and mental fatigue on his players. The remarks came on 21 June in Los Angeles, ahead of Iran's Group G fixture against Belgium on Sunday.

The Travel Arrangement Under Scrutiny

Iran have been stationed in Mexico as their base camp throughout the tournament. Under the current arrangement, the squad flies into the United States just one day before each match and returns to Mexico immediately after the final whistle. This protocol was already in place for Iran's opening game — a 2-2 draw against New Zealand — and remains in effect for the Belgium encounter.

Ghalenoei revealed that tournament organisers had, however, communicated a change in approach for Iran's final group-stage match against Egypt in Seattle on 26 June, granting the team greater flexibility over their arrival schedule.

What the Coach Said

'They said in Seattle, you can do what you want, you can act the way you want to, and you can come earlier,' Ghalenoei told reporters. The 63-year-old coach, however, pressed organisers on why equivalent leniency had not been extended from the outset. 'But my question is, why didn't they let us come earlier for the first two games as well?' he added.

On the cumulative toll of the travel schedule, Ghalenoei was candid: 'I think, because we have been flying too much, commuting, as a result of this long commute, we've been tired. That's going to affect us mentally, especially me as a head coach, because I want to focus on technical stuff.'

Group G Standings and What Is at Stake

Despite the logistical strain, Iran remain in contention for a place in the knockout rounds. All four teams in Group G — Iran, Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand — are level on one point each after the opening round of fixtures, with Belgium and Egypt drawing 1-1 in their opener.

A win against Belgium on Sunday would sharply improve Iran's qualification prospects. Conversely, another draw or a defeat would leave them needing a result against Egypt in Seattle to stay alive in the tournament.

Broader Context: Multi-Host Logistics at FIFA 2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the first edition co-hosted across three nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — making cross-border logistics a recurring challenge for several teams. Iran's situation highlights a tension between the tournament's geopolitical hosting structure and the operational needs of competing squads. Notably, this is not the only team to have raised concerns about travel distances, though Ghalenoei's remarks are among the most pointed to emerge from the group stage so far.

With the Group G table still wide open, how Iran manage their preparation in the coming days could prove as decisive as their tactical setup against Belgium.