Iran coach: US treatment at World Cup ‘really terrible’

SEATTLE, USA: The emotions were still raw for Iran players and their coach long after the ‌final whistle of the team’s 1-1 draw against Egypt in their group- stage finale at Seattle Stadium on Friday night.
Seeking to advance out of the group stage for the first time in their World Cup history, Iran were left to wait out the results of Saturday’s matches following a third-place finish in Group G. It appeared “The Melli” had solidified their place in the round of 32 with a stoppage-time score, only to have a VAR review disallow Shojae Khalilzadeh’s goal by a marginal offside call.
It continued a turbulent World Cup experience for Iran, who moved their training camp base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.

They also have faced logistical issues traveling back and forth to the United States for their three group matches.
Iran are in strong position to claim one of the eight third-place spots in the round of 32, but coach Amir Ghalenoei said his team has been treated “very unfairly” while urging FIFA president Gianni Infantino to “stand up” to ‌the co-host United States.
“It ‌was the host that wasn’t very good to us,” Ghalenoei said after Friday’s match. “I ‌urge ⁠FIFA to not ⁠let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future.

I hope Mr. Infantino will actually stand up to such behavior.”
Outside the stadium, hundreds of supporters of Reza Pahlavi, a prominent dissident of the Islamic republic, took to the streets in a gathering.

It made for a palpably charged — albeit peaceful — ⁠environment in the two hours leading up to the critical match.
Once the match kicked ‌off, Iran quickly fell behind on a fifth-minute goal by Egypt. However, Iran ‌equalized nine