News Focus
- Iran’s squad landed in Los Angeles after visa delays forced them to train in Tijuana, Mexico
- Forward Mehdi Taremi claims political strain goes against FIFA’s message of peace and unity
- Protestors from the Iranian community greeted the team at their hotel in Manhattan Beach
- Head coach Amir Ghalenoei admits travel problems have hurt their training schedule
- The team faces New Zealand in their Group G opener under tight security measures
Iran’s national football team has finally arrived in the United States for the World Cup, but star striker Mehdi Taremi admits the journey has been filled with stress rather than excitement. The squad touched down in Los Angeles on Sunday after diplomatic problems forced them to stay in Mexico for training. Their arrival came shortly before news of a peace deal broke.
Taremi spoke honestly about the difficult situation. He said the visa troubles and political arguments hurt FIFA’s message of bringing people together through football. “This kind of tension damages that joy,” the Olympiakos forward explained. He noted that he felt the pressure from the very start of the tournament. The player added that several countries faced visa problems, which removed the usual happiness that fans feel during a World Cup.
The team travelled from Tijuana to Los Angeles after their plane needed two attempts to land. When they arrived at their hotel in Manhattan Beach, they met protestors from the large Iranian community living in California. Police have placed heavy security around the players, including drones and sniffer dogs. This marks the first time in World Cup history that a host nation has welcomed a country it is at war with.
Around 35,000 Iranian fans are expected for the Group G match against New Zealand. However, many of these supporters plan to protest because they feel the national team does not represent the Iranian people. Coach Amir Ghalenoei tried to reduce the tension. “We are here to play football,” he said. “We want to represent all respectful Iranian people, both at home and abroad. Football should be separate from politics.”
The coach admitted that arriving late has damaged their preparation. “We could not start training early enough,” he stated. “This will affect us, but my players want to do their best.” Reporters also asked about missing striker Sardar Azmoun. Stories suggest he was not selected after sharing a photo with a leader from the UAE. Ghalenoei simply said Azmoun is a good player but is not with the squad.
FIFA also faces a problem with flags. Some fans want to bring the old Iranian flag used before the 1979 revolution, which shows a lion and sun. Officials have banned this flag from stadiums. When journalists asked about this, a FIFA official refused to answer, saying it was not relevant to the game.