INGLEWOOD, California — Iran’s national soccer team coach and star forward spoke out ahead of their World Cup Group G opener, promising to represent all Iranians — both inside the country and across the globe — even as political tensions and protests surround the team’s appearance in Los Angeles.
Speaking through a translator at a pre-match press conference, forward Mehdi Taremi addressed the difficult circumstances head-on. “We respect all Iranians,” he said, referring to those living in Iran as well as members of the Iranian diaspora worldwide.
His comments came shortly after the team arrived in the United States, around the same time news emerged that a peace deal between the two countries is expected to be signed very soon.
“For many years the civilized country of Iran has been a united nation. We want to showcase that unity. And we are here at the World Cup to bring joy to Iranians wherever they are,” Taremi said.
Members of the Iranian American community have staged protests against Iran’s government this week in the Los Angeles area, including a demonstration Sunday near the stadium where Iran is scheduled to play Monday against New Zealand. Additional protests are anticipated both outside and inside the venue during the match.
The backdrop to the team’s World Cup journey is especially fraught. In January, mass protests inside Iran involving hundreds of thousands of people were met with a violent crackdown that left tens of thousands dead. The United States and Israel also launched military strikes against Iran in late February.
Adding to the team’s difficulties, the U.S. government declined to allow the Iranian squad to remain on American soil outside of their actual game dates and blocked certain team staff members from entering the country at all. As a result, the players are required to stay in Mexico between matches, creating ongoing travel uncertainty.
Coach Amir Ghalenoei acknowledged the hardships but remained focused. “We are accustomed to making opportunities out of hardships,” he said. “We don’t think of anything other than bringing joy to our people, and we will do our utmost, and the rest is up to God, the almighty.”
Both Ghalenoei and Taremi acknowledged that the “tensions” surrounding the team’s presence at the tournament have taken some of the usual excitement out of the World Cup experience for players and fans alike.
The pre-match press conference spent little time on typical soccer topics like team lineups, injuries, or tactics. One notable subject that did come up was the absence of Sardar Azmoun — who has scored 57 goals across 91 international appearances — from Iran’s final roster.
Iran has never advanced beyond the group stage at a World Cup, and expectations remain modest. In addition to New Zealand, the team will face Egypt and higher-ranked Belgium in Group G.
When asked whether he would instruct his players to stop the game if pre-revolutionary Iranian flags or anti-government chants were heard in the stadium, Ghalenoei did not give a direct answer, saying instead that his players were capable of tuning out distractions.
Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran itself, and Ghalenoei expressed hope that many of them would come out to support the squad. “I am just happy that they are coming to watch us and I hope they will pray for us. I hope they will encourage us. And I hope we will pay off by playing a very good game,” he said.
