Khodadad Azizi promotes peace ahead of Iran's World Cup opener
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 14, 2026, 7:48 PM
Last updated Jun 14, 2026
Khodadad Azizi, the Iranian football legend, emphasized the importance of separating football from politics in a recent interview. With Iran set to play New Zealand in their opening match at the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Azizi reflected on their historic encounter in 1998. He criticized current political tensions affecting the tournament and expressed regret over strict visa regulations for Iranian players. Despite these challenges, he noted that the Iranian team remains focused on their performance on the pitch as they aim to advance from their group.
- •Iran's first match at the World Cup is against New Zealand in Los Angeles.
- •Azizi played in the historic 1998 match where Iran defeated the US 2-1.
- •The Iranian team faced visa issues, with 15 members initially denied entry.
- •Azizi criticized the political atmosphere surrounding the tournament.
- •He stated the team is focused solely on football despite external pressures.
- 7:48 PMYahoo Sports — Iranian football legend Azizi puts peace above politics amid World Cup tensions
"Iranian football legend Khodadad Azizi, who played in the first World Cup meeting between Iran and the United States in 1998, has told AFP that football should promote "peace" and remain separate from politics.Azizi was part of the Iran side that defeated the United States 2-1 in the countries' first World Cup meeting at the 1998 tournament in France.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
EPL•Jun 14, 2026, 10:22 PMPapers: Arsenal chasing Morocco teenager Bouaddi- Soccer•Jun 14, 2026, 10:11 PMJapan come from behind twice to draw 2-2 with Dutch at World Cup
- Soccer•Jun 14, 2026, 10:07 PMStarter or benched? Spain boss De la Fuente confirms Lamine Yamal’s status for Cabo Verde
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 14, 2026, 10:02 PMCuraçao’s 1st World Cup goal sparks belief before Germany’s floodgates open
- Europa League•Jun 14, 2026, 10:01 PM2026 World Cup: Japan snatches key 2-2 draw against the Netherlands
- MLS•Jun 14, 2026, 10:00 PMFresh World Cup controversy as Uruguay’s travel issue strains relationship with FIFA
