Key Takeaways
- Iran’s national team arrived in Los Angeles for its opening FIFA World Cup 2026 match against New Zealand, amid heightened tensions after recent U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran.
- The squad’s training camp was moved from Arizona to Mexico because of visa processing problems that kept several staff members from entering the United States.
- Los Angeles hosts the largest Iranian diaspora in the U.S.; authorities anticipate tens of thousands of protesters could gather outside SoFi Stadium in neighboring Inglewood before the game.
- Coach Amir Ghalenoei and star forward Mehdi Taremi repeatedly stressed that the team is “here to play football” and to represent all Iranians—both inside Iran and abroad—while staying clear of politics.
- Both officials emphasized unity, respect for differing opinions, and a desire to bring joy to Iranian fans worldwide through the World Cup experience.
- Taremi noted the lack of football‑focused questions in the press conference and expressed hope for a competitive, entertaining match against New Zealand.
Iran’s squad touched down in Los Angeles on Sunday, preparing for the first of three Group G fixtures that will be staged in the United States. The opening clash with New Zealand is set for Monday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, followed by a meeting with Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and a final group game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. The team’s arrival comes against a fraught backdrop: in February the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, an escalation that was later reported to be under a tentative peace deal. The fallout from those events has created visa complications that forced Iran to shift its pre‑tournament training base from Arizona to Mexico and prevented several staff members from gaining entry to the U.S.
Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian population in the United States, and local officials and media outlets have warned that tens of thousands of demonstrators could assemble outside the stadium ahead of Iran’s opener. The prospect of protests has dominated the pre‑match narrative, yet both the coaching staff and players have sought to refocus attention on the sporting contest.
At the official pre‑match news conference, head coach Amir Ghalenoei spoke through a FIFA interpreter, thanking reporters for their questions about the logistical challenges the team faced. He emphasized that the squad’s sole focus is representing Iran’s people, regardless of where they live. “We are here to play football and we are here to represent the respectful people of Iran, be it the Iranians inside Iran or the Iranian diaspora,” Ghalenoei said. “We only think about our country. We are not political people.” He reiterated that the team respects every Iranian and hopes to showcase the nation’s unity through its performance on the field.
Forward Mehdi Taremi, who has earned over 100 caps for Iran and currently plays for Olympiacos in the Greek Super League, echoed the coach’s sentiments. Speaking through an interpreter, Taremi stated, “We respect all Iranians, be it the Iranians who are inside the country or Iranians who are outside the country. We are here to play football, and football can always unite all factions.” He added that the team wants to bring joy to Iranians wherever they reside and stressed that the players “play for every Iranian, be it the Iranian diaspora or be it Iranians in the country.” Taremi acknowledged that individuals hold differing opinions but insisted that the squad’s role is to unite rather than to engage in political discourse.
When questioned about the atmosphere surrounding the tournament, Taremi noted the conspicuous absence of football‑specific inquiries in the press conference, remarking, “Nobody asked any football‑related questions.” He expressed hope that the upcoming match against New Zealand would be a good contest and emphasized mutual respect between the two sides. “We have high respect for New Zealand, and we want it to be a good game. We will make sure that we play a beautiful game for all the spectators, and I hope New Zealand will have the same attitude.”
Throughout their remarks, both Ghalenoei and Taremi made a deliberate effort to depoliticize the team’s presence, framing their participation as a purely sporting endeavor aimed at fostering national pride and solidarity among Iranians worldwide. Their messages underscored a desire to let the performance on the pitch speak for itself, hoping that the World Cup can provide a moment of collective celebration for the Iranian community despite the geopolitical tensions swirling outside the stadium.