The Iranian national team, based in Mexico for the World Cup, faced last-minute US visa delays for entry into the United States ahead of today's Group G round-2 match against Belgium (22:00 MSK at SoFi Stadium).
Coach Amir Gallenoi told Globo that Iran received US entry clearance just one day before the match, forcing the team to cut training sessions short and scramble logistics.
"For proper preparation we need a 24-hour gap, but we only got 16 hours. Conditions keep getting harder — before our last game we had 24 hours, now less than 18," Gallenoi said. "This is unfair to our country."
Iran's limited preparation time creates a tactical disadvantage against Belgium; compressed training protocols may impact Iran's defensive organization and set-piece coordination against the stronger-fancied Belgian side.
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