Iran faces challenges at World Cup amid U.S. conflict, captain says

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Ghalenoi hopes disruption does not impact his team World Cup newsletter | Daily podcast | Download the app The Iran striker Mehdi Taremi has said the controversy and disruption surrounding their involvement at the World Cup undermines Fifa’s message of peace and conceded he felt the tension before arriving in Los Angeles on the eve of their opener, hours before a peace deal was announced. For the first time since the competition’s inception, a host nation has received a country with which it is at war. On Sunday Iran flew to LA from Tijuana, Mexico, where they were relocated amid an ongoing row over visas, but are expected to face opposition from Iranians, many of whom believe the national team do not represent the country. Iran has been beset by problems in the buildup to the tournament, with several officials denied entry to the US. Continue reading...

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Iran captain Mehdi Taremi says his team is having a challenging World Cup experience amid the multifold disruptions created by their nation's war with the U.S., the tournament's co-host. The Iranians arrived in the Los Angeles area on Sunday from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, just over the U.S. border — about 140 miles (225 kilometers) from the stadium where they will open group-stage play against New Zealand on Monday night. Iran's training camp was relocated from the U.S. after the war began, and the Iranian team has endured numerous distractions since then, including visa problems.

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Iran captain Mehdi Taremi says his team is having a challenging World Cup experience amid the multifold disruptions caused by the tensions created by their nation’s ongoing war with the co-host U.S. The Iranians arrived in the Los Angeles area on Sunday from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico