[92471] Iran National Team Ahead of the Clash with Belgium: Complaints About Unfairness and Logistical Difficulties

Tension Surrounding Iran's National Team Preparations Ahead of the Match Against Belgium

Ahead of the critical meeting against the Belgian national team in the 2026 World Cup, the coach of the Iranian national team, Amir Ghalenoei, voiced sharp criticism regarding his team's preparation conditions. According to the 'Footballirib3' Telegram channel, Ghalenoei claimed that the team faced impossible schedules, with less than 16 hours available for recovery and training before the match. According to him, "football is a place where morals and humanity should prevail," and that the treatment towards his team is not fair.

In addition to the logistical difficulties, Ghalenoei claimed on the 'SNN.ir' news channel (known for its line aligned with the Iranian establishment) that key personnel in the team's administrative and media staff were not allowed to join the delegation. He noted that "if we wanted to spend billions of dollars, we could not have proven to the world the justice of our path in such a way," and claimed that this is political harassment that torments the "spirit of football."

On the other hand, in Belgium, the focus is on the professional aspects of the match. Coach Rudi Garcia emphasized on the 'IRNA' news agency that he appreciates the Iranian national team, especially for its defensive capabilities and set-piece situations. Garcia confirmed that Jeremy Doku will miss the match due to an injury and that he is taking a cautious approach with Romelu Lukaku to bring him back to full fitness.

Belgian player Thomas Meunier addressed the political situation in Iran on 'SNN.ir', noting that he fears that mixing politics and sports has become inevitable. According to Meunier, the fact that some Iranian national team players were personally affected by the war in their country might grant them extra motivation in the game.

Despite the difficulties, midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi demonstrated confidence in the players. According to him on 'Footballirib3', despite Belgium's strength, Iran does not intend to surrender: "We have proven many times that we are not a weak team, we will play with all our heart to bring pride to the Iranians."