Iran’s World Cup Press Conference Turns Political Despite Team’s Appeal to Stay Focused

Iran’s national team arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday ahead of its opening match at the FIFA World Cup, but the buildup was overshadowed by protests, visa problems, and a tense news conference. Iran opens Group G against New Zealand in Los Angeles, then plays Belgium there on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The trip has already been complicated by the Middle East war, despite the “peace agreement,” and by visa issues that forced the team’s training camp to move from Arizona to Mexico and kept some staff from entering the United States.

At the official press conference, coach Amir Ghalenoei and striker Mehdi Taremi repeatedly insisted that the squad was there only to play for all Iranians. Ghalenoei said, “We are here to play football and we are here to represent the respectable people of Iran, whether they are inside Iran or in the Iranian diaspora.” He added, “We think only about our country. We are not political people.”

The exchange became tense when a French news agency reporter asked whether the players would walk off the field if protesters raised the sun-and-lion flag associated with the Shah and anti-regime opposition. An Iranian representative who identified himself as a federation official signaled that Ghalenoei would not answer.

Taremi, who has more than 100 appearances for Iran and currently plays for Olympiacos, echoed the message of unity. He said football “can unite all factions” and that the team is in the tournament “to bring joy to Iranians everywhere.” He later complained that the press conference had drifted away from football, saying, “For politics, you need to go to other cities for this political press conference,” and added that he hoped the New Zealand match would be a good one for all spectators.

The backdrop in Los Angeles is especially sensitive because the city has the largest Iranian population in the United States, and tens of thousands of anti-Islamic Revolutionary Guard protesters are expected outside SoFi Stadium in nearby Inglewood.