Key facts
- Iran captain Mehdi Taremi criticized World Cup logistical arrangements in the U.S.
- Taremi questioned if Iran's team was welcome at the tournament.
- Iran drew 1-1 with Egypt, missing a penalty and having a goal disallowed.
- Taremi described the tournament as a logistical 'disaster' and urged FIFA to intervene.
- The match was overshadowed by geopolitical tensions and protests against the Iranian regime.
Iran captain Mehdi Taremi has strongly criticized the logistical conditions his team is facing at the World Cup in the United States, questioning whether the side is truly welcome. Following a 1-1 draw with Egypt, where Taremi missed a penalty and had a late goal disallowed, he described the tournament's organization as a logistical 'disaster'. Taremi appealed to FIFA to address the issues, noting that their logistics personnel were not present and that the team frequently had to travel from Tijuana, Mexico. He suggested that Iran's presence at the tournament might not be desired, expressing frustration over the situation. The match itself was also affected by geopolitical tensions, with some fans displaying pre-revolutionary Iranian flags and booing the national anthem, hours after the U.S. conducted strikes in Iran.