Taremi asks FIFA for more support for Iran: “It’s all a disaster” | OneFootball

After Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in their World Cup 2026 opener, Mehdi Taremi, the former FC Porto and Rio Ave striker and captain of the Iranian national team, revealed that his team was instructed to leave the United States just minutes after the final whistle.

Speaking in the mixed zone on the pitch at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Taremi, who started the match but was unable to score against the New Zealanders, lamented the impact that the requirement imposed by Donald Trump’s government to allow the Iranian team into the US during the World Cup — leaving on the same day — has had on the team’s preparation for the tournament, calling for more support from FIFA.

“It’s been a real disaster for us. We still have some problems, because supposedly we have training tomorrow morning — recovery — and then we leave for Tijuana [where the team is based, in Mexico]. We have to leave Los Angeles right now, and that is not good for us and not good for football, because at the World Cup you have to prepare well for the next match. It’s a lot of stress for the players, for the coaching staff and for everyone. But we don’t have that support, and I think FIFA has to help us more than this,” he said, also reacting to the fact that Gianni Infantino, the organization’s president, had gone into Iran’s dressing room after the match with New Zealand: “He just wants to help us. Now it’s the start of the World Cup, and he will help us.”

Asked whether he had a message for US President Donald Trump, Taremi said: “I’m here to play football, my friend. We are tired of talking about [politics]. If they help us, we are very grateful for that. If nobody helps us, it doesn’t matter. We just stay united, standing behind one another, and we will try our best to win the next two games.”

Iran still has at least two more matches to play in the United States, against Belgium and Egypt, who drew 1-1 in the other match of the opening round of World Cup Group G.

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