[79325] Crisis in the Iranian National Team ahead of the World Cup and other pressing issues in the country

2026 World Cup: Iranian National Team in Jeopardy

Just 10 days before the opening of the 2026 World Cup, the Iranian national football team is in an "unprecedented crisis," reports Iran International. According to Iran International Sport, all of the team's preparation plans have reached a "dead end" due to difficulties in obtaining visas. The delegation encountered difficulties with authorities in the US and Mexico, with Mehdi Taj, chairman of the Iranian Football Federation, pointing an accusing finger at FIFA. Conversely, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that the visa issue for Mexico is expected to be resolved soon.

Economy: Budget discussion under "war conditions"

On the domestic Iranian front, member of the Majlis Budget Committee, Mehrdad Lahouti, warned in an interview with SNN.ir that the 2026 budget must be amended in light of "wartime conditions." Lahouti admitted to the economic hardship of the citizens, noting that "with the million food coupons we distributed, today you can only buy two chickens." He proposed utilizing government assets worth ten quadrillion tomans to cover the government deficit.

Health: The smoking epidemic among youth and women

At the same time, health officials in Iran are expressing deep concern over the rise in tobacco consumption. According to SNN.ir, the Deputy Minister of Health revealed that the age of smoking initiation has dropped to 12-13 years, and that tobacco consumption among women has increased by up to 135%. The Association for Combating Tobacco noted that despite existing legislation, enforcement is insufficient, and called for the imposition of strict restrictions on the depiction of smoking in cinema and the digital sphere.

Expert remarks on football and professionalism

Additionally, former players interviewed by SNN.ir criticized the professional situation of Iranian football. Mohammad Nosrati stated that in his opinion, the "lack of chemistry between players" is a historical problem for the national team, while Reza Seyed Salehi emphasized that "our football suffers from a shortage of young players" and warned that smoking shortens the careers of professional athletes.