&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "FIFA 2026 | 'Felt tension,' say Iran players after facing protest post arrival in US for World Cup opener")
Iran footballers have arrived in the United States ahead of their FIFA 2026 opener. Iran play against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Monday (Jun 15 - 6:30 am June 16 India time). The Middle East country's players, however, acknowledged the underlying tensions amid hostile situation between their country and the United States - the co-host of the tournament along with Canada, and Mexico. A peace deal was reached between the two factions but the strain remains. Iran were originally supposed to be in the US for training ahead of the World Cup but later shifted to Mexico amid visa row before it was decided that they will travel to the US one day prior to the match and leave after that. Upon arrival at the airport, the team also faced protest from a small group of Iranian-Americans who raised placards and slogans against the current regime in the country.
Iran players acknowledge tensions after arriving in the US
Speaking at the press conference after arriving in the US, strike Mehdi Taremi said: "This kind of tension undermines that joy and it undermines the message of Fifa and our people, which is about football and bringing about peace. I have felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup. Of course, we don’t have the same beautiful experience we usually talk about – peace and joy. I know several countries had visa problems and changing of training camps. The tension exists – it did before the World Cup even started."
Despite the distractions, Iran coach Amir Ghalenoi has vowed to play like locals at SoFi Stadium in LA, California - the state with 375,000 Iranians as reported by the Guardian. "We are here to play football and we are here to represent the respectful people of Iran, be it the Iranians inside of Iran or the diaspora. We’re not political people and the slogan of FIFA is this, that football is separate from politics. We respect each and every one of the Iranians."
Protesters hold placards, raise slogans against Iran team
Trending Stories
)
Lift accident? Maintenance, builders & makers are ALL liable now, rules Supreme Court: 3 major regulations | WION Decodes
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Delhi Consumer Court fines Indian Railways Rs 25,000 for making RAC passengers share one blanket
)
Kangana Ranaut clarifies her 'Generation Gutter' remark: 'Gen Z of our country are taking us to such heights' - watch
)
Assam floods 2026: Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt and other Bollywood celebrities extend support to affected families
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Netanyahu spent thousands of dollars on garden maintenance in wartime, report says | Gravitas
)
Ramayana trailer X review: Ranbir Kapoor, Yash shine in a visual spectacle fans call 'cinema at its finest'
)
28-year-old woman PhD scholar dies of electrocution on Panjab University campus
)
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke returns to Maharashtra, receives grand welcome in hometown
)
Ramayana Part 1 trailer out! Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash lead Nitesh Tiwari’s epic saga
)
Brewery offering 'free beer' the day Trump dies has license revoked - 'Will have to pry me out of my taprooms'
)
'There is no Pakistani Kashmir, only Pakistan-occupied Kashmir': Indian Embassy in US calls out 'misleading' NYT headline
)
3.6mn people track 24hr Qantas flight from Melbourne to Toulouse: Pilot shifts, fuel tank and other details
)
ITR filing without Form 16? Here’s how salaried taxpayers can submit returns before July 31 deadline
)
Cat’s bizarre reaction before Japan earthquake goes viral: Did it detect the tremors?
)
British Airways flight comes close to 'nosediving' over London
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
DSP among 7 policemen killed as militants storm Pakistan checkpost; 8 attackers dead
)
North Korean colonel killed by firing squad for stealing grain as 'deeply shaken' officers watched
)
'Powerful response': US launches fresh revenge strikes on Iran after Trump vow to 'hit back hard'
)
Mysterious projectile leaves massive crater in Poland near Ukraine border, probe launched
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Anthropic reveals India is Claude AI's No. 2 market. But what are Indians actually using the AI for? | WION Decodes
)
Are you an Indian on an H-1B visa? New US bill could make getting Green Card easier
)
582 tonnes, 150 million°C, 60 years: WION Decodes the mind-boggling numbers behind China's 'Artificial Sun'
)
Claude AI down? Anthropic confirms outage as users face errors across chatbot and API
)
Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 8: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings
)
Student denied admission to IIT Kanpur's cybersecurity program hacks websites to prove a point
)
Nearly Rs 29 crore cash, 15 kg gold found at ex-bus driver's house in West Bengal
Upon arrival at the Los Angeles airport, a small group of Iranian-Americans demonstrated protest against the team by holding placards and raised slogans against the team. Speaking against the protest, Iran coach Ghalenoei said at the press conference: "We are here to perform a good match, a high-quality match. We don't pay attention to any of the hype and anything that goes on around us."
Iran schedule in the FIFA World Cup 2026
After playing against New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in LA, Iran next play against Belgium on June 21 also at LA Stadium (SoFi) in Ingelwood. Iran'd third and last group-stage match is against Egypt on June 26 at Seattle Stadium in Seattle.
Where to watch Iran's FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live in India?
Iran's group-stage matches in FIFA World Cup 2026 will be aired across WION's sister company Zee5 app and website.
