Iranian captain Mehdi Taremi says his team is having a challenging World Cup experience amid the many disruptions caused by the country’s war with the US, the tournament’s co-host.
The Iranians arrived in the Los Angeles area on Sunday from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, just across the US border – about 225 kilometers from the stadium where they will open the group stage against New Zealand on Monday evening. Iran’s training camp was moved from the US after the start of the war and the team has since endured numerous distractions, including visa problems.
“I felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup,” Taremi said through an interpreter. «In any tournament where there is tension, we will not have the same beautiful experience that we always talk about with peace and joy… I know it was not our fault. I know several countries had visa problems and changes with training camps. Before we arrived, the feeling, the sensation that people always have, how they look forward to the World Cup – I think they may not have had the same feeling this time.»
The US attacked Iran on February 28 and the first missile strikes killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The war has since been delayed and resumed several times, with President Donald Trump even announcing a peace deal earlier on Sunday — one that was not discussed at the news conference.
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“This kind of tension undermines that joy and undermines the message of FIFA and our people, which is that football brings peace,” said Taremi, the 33-year-old Olympiacos forward playing in his third World Cup. “I feel like this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it does now, but I hope it will be better for all fans in the future, no matter which team they support at the World Cup.”
Iran initially planned to train in Tucson, Arizona before the outbreak of war, but soon moved to Baja California. FIFA subsequently rejected Iran’s desire to play the World Cup group stage matches outside the US, claiming logistics and contracts would not allow this.
Iran has since been faced with logistical problems, including the denial of visas for certain members of its delegation. A team spokesman said Sunday that two members of the media relations group had been denied U.S. visas for the opening game. Iran and its traveling fans have also faced multiple issues with match tickets.
“Without a doubt, this will have a negative impact on the spirit of football,” Iranian coach Amir Ghalenoei said. «Football is supposed to bring countries and cultures together. Whether we win or lose, that is a personal feeling we have, but football as a game is about creating joy. These circumstances have affected our technical focus, but I have really tried to make sure my players focus on strategy and techniques.»
The Iranian team is limited to short trips to the US for their matches, flying in the day before the match and reportedly leaving immediately afterwards. Iran will play Belgium again next Sunday in Inglewood, California, before wrapping up the group stage against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Without giving details, Taremi said Iran’s journey from Tijuana to SoFi Stadium took about five hours, including the very short flight.
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“Of course that has consequences for us,” Ghalenoei said. “I would like to thank the good people of Mexico, but we Iranians are used to creating opportunities out of hardship, and we think of nothing but bringing joy to people.”
The Iranian team entered the field at the SoFi Stadium after the press conference, allowing the players to get acquainted with the unknown location. Players walked in small groups through the futuristic arena, pointing out the features of the towering stands and examining the quality of the grass.
Iran was among the first qualifiers for this World Cup and the strong team is currently 20th in the FIFA rankings. But after the war started, Trump suggested the Iranian team might not be safe in the U.S. — and Iranian officials debated whether the team should participate in the tournament at all.
The Los Angeles area was likely chosen to host two of the Iranian matches, in part because it has the largest Iranian population in the world outside of Iran. The so-called Tehrangeles area of the city is filled with families numbering untold thousands who fled the country after the Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s.
Taremi and Ghalenoei are aware that many US-based Iranians will cheer their success – both inside and outside the stadium, where several protests against the Iranian government are reportedly planned. Yet another source of potential commotion does not concern the team leaders.
“We play for every Iranian, whether in the diaspora or in Iran,” Taremi said. «People have different opinions, but we are here to unite people, and we will try to bring joy to all Iranians, wherever they live. We don’t get involved in politics. We are here to play football.»
Published on June 15, 2026
