The coach of the Iranian national team and its main player stated this Sunday (14) that the team will strive to bring joy and unity to all the Iranian people during the World Cup, played in Mexico, Canada and the United States, with which Iran recently signed an agreement to end the war between the countries.
“We respect all Iranians, both within Iran and in the diaspora, said striker Mehdi Taremi, a player for Olympiakos, Greece, with spells at Inter Milan and Porto.
The team will make its debut in the tournament against New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium this Monday (15), at 10pm. The match will be broadcast on CazéTV.
“For many years, Iran has been a united nation. We want to show that unity. And we are here at the World Cup to bring joy to Iranians wherever they are,” Taremi said.
“We are used to turning difficulties into opportunities,” said coach Amir Ghalenoei. “We think of nothing other than bringing joy to our people and we will do our best. The rest is in God’s hands.”
The pair and the rest of the Iranian national team squad arrived in the US for the first time at this World Cup on Sunday, landing at Los Angeles International Airport.
The countries have been at war since the end of February, when the US and Israel carried out attacks on Tehran, but appear close to a peace agreement.
The agreement to cease hostilities is expected to be signed during a ceremony on Friday (19) in Switzerland, US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who coordinated the negotiations, said on social media on Sunday.
The Group G match against New Zealand will be played against the backdrop of the US war with Iran and the recently announced peace deal, factors that add a tense atmosphere to a clash between two nations that have never met at the World Cup.
Iran moved its World Cup training base from a sports complex in Arizona to Mexico late last month, after the US and Israel carried out joint attacks on Iran starting in late February.
As the team flew to Los Angeles, a group of protesters calling for democracy in Iran and denouncing its government gathered near Los Angeles Stadium.
“No Shah, No Mullahs in Iran – Regime Change by Iranians,” the posters said. Photos and posters of athletes who protesters said died after being arrested by the Iranian government were scattered around a busy street corner in Inglewood.
Earlier in Tijuana, Mexico, fans lined a crowded sidewalk outside Iran’s hotel chanting “Team Melli” — which means “national team” in Persian — as the Iranian players left the hotel and walked toward the waiting bus.
One fan held a yellow sign with black letters that read: “Iran, you will never walk alone. Mexico is with you.”
This is the first World Cup in which a host country hosts a nation with which it is at war.
With information from Reuters
