Taremi Says World Cup Tension Undermines Fifa’s Peace Message
Iran striker Mehdi Taremi has spoken out about the disruption surrounding his country’s World Cup campaign, saying the ongoing tensions have damaged the spirit Fifa tries to project ahead of the tournament.
According to The Guardian, Iran flew into Los Angeles from Tijuana in Mexico on Sunday — having been relocated there amid a prolonged row over US entry visas for Iranian officials. Several members of Iran’s backroom staff were denied entry to the United States in the buildup to the competition, and the team arrived roughly 20 minutes late to their pre-match press conference at SoFi Stadium, though Taremi insisted that was not the players’ doing.
The Olympiakos forward was candid in his assessment of the mood. “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 said. He added that he had felt the tension from the moment Iran arrived and that the usual excitement ahead of a World Cup had simply not been there this time around.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoi echoed those concerns, conceding that the disrupted travel had eaten into the squad’s preparation time. “We arrived late and we didn’t have enough time to adjust, of course that will affect us,” he said, though he remained hopeful it would not harm their performances on the pitch.
On arrival at their hotel in Manhattan Beach, the squad were met by Iranian protesters — many drawn from California’s Iranian diaspora, estimated at around 375,000 people and the largest such community outside Iran itself. A significant security presence, including drones and mobile surveillance units, was also on hand.
Ghalenoi sought to strike a unifying tone, saying the squad were there to represent all Iranians regardless of political opinion. “We are only thinking about our country. We’re not political people,” he said.
The coach was also asked about the absence of Sardar Azmoun, with reports suggesting the forward fell out of favour after posting a photo with UAE ruler Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum — a sensitive matter given the ongoing conflict between Iran and the UAE. Ghalenoi offered little explanation, simply describing Azmoun as an excellent player and moving on.
A reported peace deal was announced on the eve of Iran’s opener, adding yet another layer of uncertainty to what has been a deeply complicated World Cup build-up for the squad.
Iran face New Zealand in Group G with around 35,000 of their supporters expected inside SoFi Stadium, several of whom are anticipated to stage protests before kick-off. Keep up with all the action via our World Cup 2026 hub and check the live standings as Group G takes shape.