Iran national team forward Mehdi Taremi shared his thoughts on the atmosphere surrounding the current World Cup.

“This is not my first World Cup, it’s already my third… People always say that when you step off the plane and arrive in the host country, you should feel an atmosphere of hospitality and unity. Maybe it’s just my impression, but I don’t feel that now. Obviously, the tension is very high, but I believe that sport and politics should always be kept separate. Sport is about respect, peace, and unity.”

“The World Cup is watched by, I don’t know, how many billions of people, and it can help spread these values, it can help create a world without conflict, not just for Iran, but for everyone. I’ll just add that any country that agrees to host the World Cup must comply with FIFA regulations and fulfill its duties as a host nation. That’s what I mean when I say politics should be kept separate and the principles of sport preserved.

“If we set aside, for a moment, the issues of visa refusals, diplomatic tensions, and accusations against some officials of suspicious ties, what message do you want to convey as the national football team?”

“We want to convey a message of peace through our play and our culture, which is very rich. The media does not show it to the world properly. I believe that our people are already proud of us simply because we came here and are playing under such conditions. And now, after this pride, we must give people a bit of joy – that is, win matches,” said Taremi.

In the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, Iran will play against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.

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