Iran's soccer team drew 2-2 with New Zealand on Monday but were forced to fly back to their Tijuana base immediately after the match, leaving minimal time for recovery before their next game. The team's coach, Amir Ghalenoei, complained publicly that Iran is the 'most oppressed team' in the tournament due to last-minute travel restrictions and tight scheduling. This is likely a reference to geopolitical tension between Iran and the United States — Iran's participation in the World Cup was uncertain for months due to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran that began in late February 2026, and the country now faces operational constraints even during competition.