Iran national team captain Mehdi Taremi described the 2026 World Cup as a 'disastrous' tournament, criticizing FIFA's logistics. He told a press conference that FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised to resolve the team's concerns but did not deliver, and said the squad respects LGBT people but is focused on football.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi escalated his criticism of the 2026 World Cup's logistics on Sunday, calling the tournament a 'disaster.' Speaking after the team's continued travel difficulties and complaints about visa and accommodation arrangements in the US, Taremi said FIFA president Gianni Infantino had personally promised to resolve the squad's concerns but 'failed to deliver.'
Taremi also reiterated that Team Melli respects LGBT people — a stance that diverges from the Iranian federation's official position, which recently joined Egypt in calling on FIFA to ban Pride displays at their upcoming match. However, he said the team's focus is solely on football.
The remarks come as part of an ongoing saga of complaints by the Iranian team since arriving in the US for the tournament, cited by The Zioneer on June 27 as complaints about 'logistical disaster.' The Iranian federation has also complained of US restrictions — including visa denials for a Somali referee — which FIFA has declined to intervene in directly.
2 developments
- DevelopingIran captain Taremi says team respects LGBTQ people, sidestepping federation's FIFA protest
- DevelopingIran's World Cup coach calls team 'most oppressed'; activists highlight regime's crackdown on players
- DevelopingGary Lineker says Iran World Cup team treated 'very unfairly' over US travel restrictions
- DevelopingIran: Revolutionary Guard-affiliated football official reports US interference to FIFA
Source and signal
- Internal intake