Iran Captain Criticizes FIFA Over World Cup Struggles
Iran’s soccer captain, Mehdi Taremi, has openly criticized FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, after his team faced numerous travel issues during their World Cup journey. Taremi labeled the competition a “disaster” for the Iranian squad.
After a 1-1 draw against Egypt in Seattle, Taremi expressed his disappointment, stating that FIFA didn’t keep promises made at the start of the tournament. He pointed out that constant travel between Mexico and the U.S. put Iran at a disadvantage.
This draw placed Iran third in Group G, and they now await Saturday’s results to see if they can move on to the Round of 32 as one of the best third-placed teams.
‘No One Is Helping Us’
Taremi did not hold back his frustration, questioning FIFA’s management of Iran’s participation in the World Cup. “This is a disaster. FIFA should have solved our issues from the beginning,” he told reporters. He recalled a visit from Infantino after their first game against New Zealand, where the FIFA president said, “It’s just the beginning,” but now the group stage is almost over.
Initially, Iran planned to stay in Tucson, Arizona, but due to rising tensions between Iran and the U.S., they moved their camp to Tijuana, Mexico. This change meant they had to cross the border for all their matches, which created additional challenges. Many support staff could not secure U.S. visas, leaving the players without essential support for recovery and logistics.
“We don’t have our logistics team here because they couldn’t get visas. How is it possible to keep traveling from Tijuana?” Taremi questioned. He acknowledged their affection for the people of Tijuana but added that as professional athletes, the situation was unfair. “Who wants to help us? If they want us out, fine. But that’s not right,” he stated.
When asked if he felt welcomed at the tournament, Taremi replied, “We have to fight against everything here.”
Iran Coach Calls Out Host Nation
Iran’s coach, Amir Ghalenoei, shared Taremi’s frustration, claiming the United States, as co-host, treated them unfairly. “The host country has not been just with us. If we had arrived two weeks earlier, we could have prepared better physically and mentally, but we did not get that chance,” he said.
Although restrictions were somewhat eased before Friday’s game, allowing the team to arrive in Seattle two days ahead, they still had to return to Tijuana right after the match. Ghalenoei called on FIFA to prevent future hosts from imposing similar challenges on teams.
Awaiting Their Fate
Iran believed they had scored a late winner in stoppage time, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside following a VAR check. This result means they finished third in Group G and must now depend on other teams’ results to advance to the knockout stage.
Despite the unpredictability, Ghalenoei remained focused. “The team came here with a serious goal: to train and perform well,” he commented. “If we advance, I’ll give them a day to recover and maybe go to the beach to relax.”
As they await their next steps, Iran continues to hope for a favorable outcome in the tournament.
