Despite an agreement to end the war between Washington and Tehran drawing closer, the situation for the Iranian national team remains complex. Team Melli are at the World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada, though it does not resemble any idea of suspension of conflict — not quite the ancient Olympic pause, not really anything close. No definitive ceasefire yet. And then the football itself: head coach Amir Ghalenoei has called his squad «the most oppressed» at this World Cup.
After the 2-2 draw with New Zealand, Iran were moved out of Los Angeles and back to their base in Tijuana, Mexico. The camp had been set there after the United States government refused to host the team in Arizona because of the ongoing war between the two countries.
Ghalenoei put it simply: «after the match they told us: “You must leave immediately”». The plan, he said, had been different — return to Mexico the day after each game, recover overnight. Instead, straight out of Los Angeles.
There will still be trips back into the United States. At least two more. All group matches on American soil: Belgium in Los Angeles again, then Seattle for Egypt.
«We have spent so much time on planes travelling», Ghalenoei said, «that we have not even been given time to recover». Mehdi Taremi: «I don’t think this is good for football. At a World Cup you need to prepare properly for the next match, but we will not let this stop us».
Flights, Mexico–US, US–Mexico. Repeated.
Among the Iranian players, a sense of unease is beginning to grow: «For us it is all a disaster, I think FIFA should help us more», Taremi said. «We will see what happens».
Frustration too from Ghalenoei and the former Inter striker over the fact that Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, has been barred from entering the United States, along with other members of staff.
In Los Angeles, where the match was played, there is the largest Iranian community outside the country — many arrived after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. During the anthem, boos mixed with applause, and pre-revolution flags appeared in the stands despite FIFA’s ban.
Kick-off, and for a while it is only football.
Belgium next, 21 June. Four days in Mexico in between. A country and a government, Ghalenoei has said again, that make them feel at home.