Taremi says US incidents “go against FIFA’s message of peace”

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·15 juin 2026

Taremi says US incidents “go against FIFA’s message of peace”

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei said football should “bring peace and joy to the Iranian people,” while captain Mehdi Taremi, a former FC Porto player, criticized the logistical problems experienced at the 2026 World Cup, which “go against FIFA’s message of peace.”

“We play for all the Iranian people and for the entire Iranian people. Football’s purpose is to unite and bring peace and joy to the Iranian people,” said Iran’s head coach on Sunday, as his team made its tournament debut today against New Zealand in the opening round of Group G, which also includes Belgium and Egypt.

Amir Ghalenoei declined to comment on the war in the Middle East or the announcement of the peace agreement between Iran and the United States, one of the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup, limiting the press conference, held after the team’s arrival in Los Angeles – before traveling to Mexico, where the delegation will be based – to competition-related matters.

Vidéos OneFootball

“We should have trained earlier, but despite arriving late and not having had time to adapt properly, I know my players will give their best and show all their quality, as will all the other players competing in the World Cup,” said the Iranian coach.

The experienced 33-year-old forward Taremi was more forceful in his criticism and pointed to the difficulties several national teams and even refereeing crews faced in entering the United States, one of the host countries of the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, a situation that “goes against FIFA’s message of peace.”

“It wasn’t only Iran that was affected. In any tournament there is always tension. Of course, it’s not the same experience, and it’s also not something that happens only to us. Many countries had visa problems,” Taremi noted, stressing that “Iran is a civilized country” and that the national team wants to use the tournament to “give hope to the Iranian people.”

Already in the United States, the Iranian team held its first training session at the Los Angeles Galaxy training center, in an atmosphere marked by heavy security and protests by supporters and opponents of Team Melli’s presence at the World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup, the first expanded to 48 teams, will be played until July 19 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Portugal will also be in the final phase, having been drawn in Group K alongside Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uzbekistan.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.