Iran captain Mehdi Taremi questioned whether his team was truly welcome at the FIFA World Cup after a 1-1 draw against Egypt on Friday, sharply criticising the conditions under which the side has been forced to compete in the United States.
Taremi endured a frustrating evening, missing an early penalty and heading against the crossbar before a late goal that would have secured Iran’s place in the knockout stage was ruled out for offside.
The match unfolded against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions. Some fans waved pre-revolutionary Iranian flags and booed the national anthem, just hours after the United States launched strikes on Iran, with both countries accusing each other of breaching a ceasefire agreed last week.
Iran has also faced travel complications throughout the tournament. Although U.S. authorities allowed the team to travel from its base in Tijuana, Mexico, two days before the match instead of one, Taremi said the arrangements remained unfair and labelled the tournament’s logistics a “disaster.”
“FIFA, they have to solve every problem here but unfortunately they couldn’t, since the beginning,” Taremi told reporters.
He added that FIFA president Gianni Infantino had visited Iran’s dressing room after its opening match and assured the squad that “it’s just the beginning,” but complained that, with the group stage nearly over, the team’s logistics staff were still unable to join them.
“How is it possible we always have to travel to Tijuana?” Taremi said. “We love the people of Mexico. We love Tijuana. They are so humble people.
“We love them. But as professional players, in a professional competition, it’s not right.”
The striker also questioned whether Iran’s participation in the tournament was genuinely wanted, despite the team still having a chance of reaching the round of 32 depending on results in Saturday’s group matches.
“Who wants to help us? Who?” Taremi asked. “If they want us to be out, OK, let’s be out, let’s get out. But that’s not fair.”
Published on Jun 27, 2026
