During a press conference on June 15 at the LA Stadium in Inglewood, California, ahead of their Group G opener against New Zealand, team captain Mehdi Taremi stated, "I believe this World Cup could have been held in a much better atmosphere. I hope that in the future, all fans, regardless of which team they support, can enjoy the tournament in a better environment and atmosphere."
Iran has encountered significant difficulties in participating in this World Cup due to the repercussions of recent conflicts and diplomatic tensions with the U.S. Initially, the team planned to set up their base camp in Tucson, Arizona, but after the outbreak of war, they faced visa denials and had to relocate their training site to Tijuana, Mexico. Currently, 12 key support staff members have had their visas denied, with only four allowed entry, making it challenging to operate the team effectively.
As a result, the Iranian squad must travel approximately 225 kilometers (140 miles) between their Tijuana base and the LA Stadium for their matches. Reports indicate that the journey from Tijuana to LA, including flights, took about five hours before the New Zealand match.
Taremi expressed deep disappointment regarding the situation, saying, "I know we are not the only ones experiencing this. Many countries have faced visa issues, and training camp schedules have changed. This kind of tension diminishes joy and undermines the message that FIFA and soccer bring peace. Typically, people look forward to the World Cup with excitement, but we feel we haven't fully experienced that this time."
Iran's head coach, Amir Galenoei, also commented, "Soccer should connect nations and cultures. Whether we win or lose is a personal feeling, but the sport is meant to bring joy to people. These circumstances have affected our team's tactical focus, but I have worked to keep the players focused on strategy and skills."
Los Angeles, where the matches will take place, has the largest population of Iranian immigrants in the U.S. Many oppose the current Iranian regime that came to power after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, raising the possibility of anti-government protests around the stadium. There are also speculations that flags from the pre-revolution era may be brought into the stadium.
In response, Taremi stated, "We play for all Iranians. People can have their own opinions, but we are here to unite people. We will strive to bring joy to all Iranians, no matter where they live. We do not engage in politics. We are here to play soccer."
Starting on June 16 at 10 a.m., Iran will kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand, followed by matches against Belgium on June 22 and Egypt on June 27 in Group G.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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