Iran played on US soil shortly after President Donald Trump announced a deal between Washington and Tehran to end their conflict, which began when the United States and Israel attacked Iran in February.
The squad's training base had been moved from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, amid uncertainty over visas, and its time in the United States was kept to a minimum.
Several hundred protesters, many of them Iranian Americans from the Los Angeles area, gathered outside the stadium, according to reports.
Some said they felt torn between excitement over the World Cup, anger at Iran's government over its crackdown on anti-government protests and resentment towards US authorities.
Iran's national anthem was met with loud booing from the stands.
After the match, the squad was ordered to return immediately to Mexico rather than stay overnight to recover as planned.
"We're supposed to stay here tonight to recover and return tomorrow lunchtime, but they haven't permitted us," Ghalenoei said, without specifying who had imposed the restriction.
"I think perhaps our team is the most oppressed one in the whole World Cup."
'We just want peace'
Captain Mehdi Taremi said the disruption was affecting the players' performances.
"It's so bad and it affects our team and we just want peace. I think FIFA have to help us more than this," he said.
He added that FIFA head Gianni Infantino visited the dressing room after the match.
Ghalenoei also said visa restrictions had prevented several members of the team's support staff from travelling, and linked cramping suffered by several players to fatigue from the extra travel.
Earlier in Iran's Group G, Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1.
The group continues on Sunday, with Belgium facing Iran and New Zealand taking on Egypt.
(ał/gs)
Source: PAP, Reuters