Tunisia appoint Renard; Iran player’s visa runs out after opener; Klopp under fire for barb
Iran’s World Cup campaign has been thrown into disarray by a series of visa and travel obstacles that are severely hampering the team’s recovery and preparation, prompting furious complaints from players and coaching staff. After Monday night’s 2-2 draw with New Zealand in Los Angeles, the squad was ordered to leave the United States immediately, despite the critical need for rest following an intense match. The head coach, Amir Ghalenoei, described his side as “the most oppressed team in the whole World Cup”, while captain Mehdi Taremi labelled the treatment “a disaster”. The concerns were aired directly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who visited the dressing room after the game and promised to help. The turmoil has been compounded by a visa crisis for winger Mehdi Torabi, whose single-entry US visa expired the moment the match ended, leaving him unable to travel back into the country for upcoming fixtures.
The Iranian camp’s logistical nightmare began long before kick-off. Ghalenoei revealed that the team had spent a disproportionate amount of time commuting between bases and were initially prevented from arriving in Los Angeles two nights before the game as planned. “We’ve spent so much time commuting in the air,” he said. “They didn’t even give us time to recover after the game today. They said we had to leave immediately. It’s very important for us to have time for recovery and yet we were asked to return to Tijuana and we are really troubled by that.” The squad is based in Mexico, crossing the border for matches. Taremi, along with midfielder Mohammad Mohebi, backed the coach’s account and hinted at resentment toward the US government, though they stopped short of making a direct accusation. The captain added that Infantino had pledged to do what he could to ensure more of the Iranian delegation – many of whom were unable to obtain visas – could attend the remaining group games on US soil. “You are stronger than everything,” Infantino told the players, according to footage published on social media. “You are writing history, the whole world is watching you.” The FIFA president, who has access to a private jet provided by Qatar Airways as part of its sponsorship deal, intends to attend two World Cup matches a day where possible for the remainder of the tournament.
The specific visa problem facing Mehdi Torabi came to light after the New Zealand game. The player was issued a single-entry visa rather than the multiple-entry permit needed for a team shuttling between Mexico and the United States. “Following the national team’s trip to Los Angeles for the match against New Zealand and the conclusion of that game, Torabi’s visa has now expired,” Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported. The Iranian Football Federation said it “has taken steps to obtain a new visa for Torabi, so that he can accompany the national team in its upcoming matches”. World Cup organisers and the US authorities have not yet commented. The visa issue is not confined to Iran. Cape Verde’s veteran goalkeeper Vozinha, who was named player of the match after making seven saves in a stunning 0-0 draw against Spain, was in tears at full time because his mother could not afford the cost or the time required to obtain a US visa. “I also cried because my mum didn’t manage to be here because of the visa,” the 40-year-old said. “Because of the money we had to pay for the visa, we didn’t manage to [get it done] on time. I would like her to be here, but I’m also very happy.”
Dramatic draws and a coaching casualty
The opening slate of group matches delivered four draws on a single day, but the results were anything but dull. Spain, one of the pre-tournament favourites, were held to a goalless stalemate by World Cup debutants Cape Verde in Atlanta. Luis de la Fuente’s side enjoyed 74 per cent possession and introduced Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal from the bench, yet they could not break down the island nation of just 525,000 people. Spain’s head coach insisted there was no reason to panic. “We are completely calm, convinced that there is a long way to go. As we see it, we have seven games left,” he said. For Cape Verde, the point was historic – their first ever at a World Cup. Vozinha, who was in tears, said: “The dream came true. We competed against Spain, one of the best teams in the world. We are very happy and proud.”
In Seattle, Belgium escaped with a 1-1 draw against Egypt after Romelu Lukaku forced an own goal within 23 seconds of his introduction. The Napoli striker, who has played only 69 minutes of club football this season because of injury, split two defenders from Thomas Meunier’s cross and the ball deflected off Mohamed Hany’s foot past goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir. Lukaku had faced criticism for his inclusion in the Belgium squad given his lack of game time. Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans acknowledged the forward’s need for fitness but underlined his value: “He’s a target man. He needs to build up his fitness, which is understandable after being out for the season, but he helps us in this way.” Egypt had taken the lead through Emam Ashour’s superb 20-yard strike after a clever pass from Mohamed Salah, who was deployed centrally on his 34th birthday.
In Miami, Saudi Arabia came within minutes of another famous World Cup win before Uruguay snatched a 1-1 draw. Abdulelah al-Amri gave the Saudis a first-half lead, but Maximiliano Araújo equalised from close range with ten minutes left. The match attracted little local enthusiasm, with a journalist on the ground noting that Miami’s abundance of entertainment options and celebrity culture left a group-stage game between two goal-shy sides struggling to draw a crowd. The Hard Rock Stadium has hosted Super Bowls and Formula One, so football fans were not easily impressed. After the match, Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa became embroiled in an awkward exchange with a reporter who asked about his demeanour in an official FIFA portrait. “I don’t have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken. I’m not a model,” Bielsa said, before adding: “Should I also explain why I don’t look to the people who are speaking to me at this moment?”
Tunisia have become the first coaching casualty of the tournament after sacking Sabri Lamouchi following their 5-1 defeat to Sweden in Monterrey. Lamouchi, appointed in January on a contract until 2028, leaves after winning only one of five games in charge – a 1-0 victory over Haiti. The Tunisian Football Federation announced that fellow Frenchman Hervé Renard would take over for the remainder of the World Cup campaign, with negotiations for a longer-term partnership to follow. Renard, a two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner, famously guided Saudi Arabia to a victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup and has also coached the French women’s team. He is expected to arrive in Monterrey on Tuesday to link up with the squad.
Meanwhile, the former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has apologised for a remark he made about Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann while working as a pundit. Klopp said he would have chosen a different starting XI and added, “luckily, Julian Nagelsmann is still picking the team – for now.” The comment drew sharp criticism from German football legends Lothar Matthäus and Stefan Effenberg. “Jurgen should know better,” Matthäus said. “His comments aren’t going to make Nagelsmann’s job any easier. I’d like to see what he would have said if, before an important Champions League match, a pundit had advised him to leave one of his key players on the bench.” Effenberg called the remarks “unacceptable”. Klopp, who has been linked with the Germany job since 2024, later said: “I could have slapped myself across the face for saying that. It just slipped out casually – it has absolutely no significance.”
In a separate historical note, the World Cup has seen remarkable advances in sports science since England’s 1990 campaign, when the squad’s fitness was assessed using a BBC microcomputer, a dot-matrix printer and a few clunky Polar heart-rate monitors. Professor John Brewer, the Football Association’s first head of human performance, used bleep tests at Lilleshall, on arrival in Italy and after two weeks of training in the heat to prove to the players they had acclimatised – a far cry from today’s high-tech recovery methods.
Debuts, rematches and local heroes
As the tournament progresses, several teams will make their first appearances. Jordan face Austria in a Group K opener, with captain Ehsan Haddad expressing pride rather than pressure. “We are participating for the first time in our history. It is a great source of pride for us. This is pride more than pressure. It was the dream to be here,” he said. Jordan scored 32 goals in qualifying and are aiming to become the first debut team to reach the knockout stages since Slovakia in 2010. Uzbekistan also step onto the World Cup stage for the first time when they meet Colombia. Coached by Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan will rely on Manchester City centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov in defence and captain Eldor Shomurodov in attack.
France open their campaign against Senegal in New Jersey, seeking to avoid a repeat of the opening-day defeat they suffered at the hands of the same opponent in 2002 – a result that contributed to the then-reigning champions crashing out in the group stage. Les Bleus boast a potent attack featuring Kylian Mbappé, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé and winger Michael Olise. However, doubts persist about the on-pitch relationship between Mbappé and Dembélé, with the latter struggling to replicate his club form for the national team. The debate has drawn comparisons to England’s midfield dilemma in 2006 involving Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
Defending champions Argentina face Algeria in a Group H encounter. Algeria have made their base camp in Lawrence, Kansas, where they have been embraced by local residents. Videos of the welcome have gone viral, showing fans wearing Algeria scarves and fighting back tears. Local artist Stan Herd explained that organisers wanted the team to feel welcome, commissioning artwork and lining lamp-posts with signs reading “1,2,3, Viva l’Algérie!” Lawrence, home to the University of Kansas, has a student population that is roughly 30 per cent minorities or international students. Algeria’s coach Vladimir Petkovic praised the “warm welcome” from their newfound fans.
New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament at No. 85 in FIFA’s world rankings, earned an emotional 2-2 draw against world No. 21 Iran. In Wellington, dozens of fans gathered at the Four Kings sports bar to watch the All Whites, who are appearing at a World Cup for the first time since 1982. “It’s hugely significant,” said supporter Andy Brown. “It’s all about football, it’s the World Cup and how good is it to see New Zealand there now?”
