'Repressed' Iran forced to leave U.S. after New Zealand draw - ESPN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei called his team perhaps the «most repressed team in the whole World Cup,» after he said they have been forced to leave Los Angeles and return to their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, immediately following their opening match. After perhaps the most strained buildup for any team in the long history of the World Cup, Iran finally took the pitch on Monday at SoFi Stadium, drawing 2-2 with New Zealand in their politically charged opener. But Ghalenoei bega