Mehdi Taremi, the Iranian striker, expressed concerns that the surrounding controversies and disruptions prior to their World Cup participation diminish Fifa’s message of peace. He noted a palpable tension as the team arrived in Los Angeles just hours before their opening match, coinciding with the announcement of a peace deal. This marks a historic moment as a host nation welcomes a country with which it is currently at war.
On Sunday, the Iranian team traveled to Los Angeles from Tijuana, Mexico, having been relocated due to ongoing visa disputes. They are expected to face protests from many Iranians who feel that the national team does not accurately represent their interests. The lead-up to the tournament has been fraught with challenges, as several officials were denied entry into the United States.
Taremi stated, “This kind of tension undermines that joy and it undermines the message of Fifa and our people, which is about football and bringing about peace,”
He further commented, “I think this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has and I hope in the future it will be better for all fans, whoever they are supporting. “It’s not just Iran that has been impacted, others have been impacted, including referees [the Somali official Omar Artan was denied entry]. I have felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup. Of course, we don’t have the same beautiful experience we usually talk about – peace and joy. I know several countries had visa problems and changing of training camps. The tension exists – it did before the World Cup even started. The feeling, the sensation people always have looking forward to a World Cup, I think this time they hadn’t had the same feeling.”
Upon their arrival in Los Angeles, the team had to make a second landing attempt. At their hotel in Manhattan Beach, they encountered Iranian protestors, part of the 375,000-strong Iranian community in California, which is the largest outside Iran. The area around Westwood is often referred to as “Iran will be playing as locals in Los Angeles, in spite of it all,” due to the significant Iranian diaspora. Amir Ghalenoi, Iran’s head coach, remarked, “We are here to play football and we are here to represent the respectful people of Iran, be it the Iranians inside of Iran or the diaspora,”
Approximately 35,000 supporters from Iran are anticipated to attend their Group G match against New Zealand, with several planning to protest against the team beforehand. Ghalenoi emphasized, “We are only thinking about our country. We’re not political people and the slogan of Fifa is this, that football is separate from politics. We respect each and every one of the Iranians.”
Ghalenoi acknowledged that the complicated travel arrangements have disrupted their preparations. “We were supposed to start training earlier, but, look, we arrived late and we didn’t have enough time to adjust, of course that will affect us,” he noted. “I know my players are determined to do their utmost. I hope the World Cup will go well despite the travel problems we’ve had … I hope it will not affect the quality of our play.”
Although Iran reportedly cleared customs without issues, they arrived approximately 20 minutes late for their pre-match press conference at So-Fi Stadium. Taremi defended the team, stating, “The players of the national team play for every Iranian … People have different opinions but we are here as footballers to unite people and we will try to bring joy to all Iranians, irrespective of where they live. Everyone can have their own opinion. We are not here to get involved in politics, we are here to play football.”
Ghalenoi also addressed the absence of Sardar Azmoun amid rumors of perceived disloyalty to the government. Azmoun, currently playing in the UAE, reportedly angered officials by posting a photo with UAE ruler Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum. He said, “Serdar Azmoun is an excellent player and has done a lot for the national team, but he is not with us and we wish he was, but this is football, sorry,”
A significant issue for Fifa is the potential presence of supporters carrying the historical flag of Iran, which features a lion and sun emblem predating the Islamic revolution. This flag is banned from stadiums during the World Cup. A Fifa official dismissed inquiries regarding the flag, stating that it was not pertinent to the game.
