Mehdi Taremi, the Iranian striker, expressed concerns that the turmoil surrounding their participation in the World Cup detracts from FIFA’s message of peace. He noted that he sensed this tension even before the team reached Los Angeles, coinciding with the announcement of a peace deal. This marks a historic moment, as a host nation is welcoming a country with which it is engaged in conflict for the first time since the tournament’s inception.
On Sunday, the Iranian team traveled to Los Angeles from Tijuana, Mexico, where they were relocated due to ongoing visa issues. They are likely to encounter opposition from some Iranian expatriates who feel the national team does not represent their interests. The lead-up to the tournament has been fraught for Iran, with several officials barred from entering the United States.
“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,” Taremi stated. “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.”
Taremi continued, reflecting on the broader impact of these issues.
“Iran will be playing as locals in Los Angeles, in spite of it all,”
After a challenging journey, Taremi and his teammates arrived in LA, having to attempt landing twice. Upon reaching their hotel in Manhattan Beach, they were met by Iranian protestors, part of the 375,000-strong Iranian community in California, which is the largest outside of Iran. A notable security presence, including drones and sniffer dogs, was also in place. The Westwood area of Los Angeles is often referred to as “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,” due to the significant Iranian diaspora there. “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.” remarked head coach Amir Ghalenoi.
Approximately 35,000 supporters of Iran are expected for their Group G match against New Zealand, with protests anticipated against the team beforehand. “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,” Ghalenoi emphasized. “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.”
Ghalenoi acknowledged that their complicated travel arrangements have hindered their preparation. “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.” he explained. “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,”
Although Iran managed to clear customs without significant issues, they were still around 20 minutes late for their pre-match press conference at So-Fi Stadium. “It wasn’t our fault,” Taremi remarked. “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, who reportedly faced backlash for a perceived disloyalty to the government. Azmoun, currently playing in the UAE, allegedly upset officials by sharing a photo with UAE ruler Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, especially in light of past Iranian attacks on facilities there. “Sardar Azmoun is an excellent player and has done a lot for the national team, but he is not with us and we wish he were, but this is football, sorry,” Ghalenoi stated.
A significant issue for FIFA involves the potential for fans to bring flags featuring the country’s historical design, which includes a lion and a sun, from before the Islamic Revolution. This flag is prohibited in stadiums during the World Cup. In response to a question about this flag, a FIFA official dismissed it as irrelevant to the match.
