[83172] Iran national team in the 2026 World Cup: Preparations for the match against New Zealand in the shadow of logistical difficulties

2026 World Cup: Iran prepares for the encounter against New Zealand

Ahead of its upcoming match in the 2026 World Cup, the Iranian national football team held press conferences in which messages of national unity were emphasized alongside criticism of the tournament's logistical organization. Striker Mehdi Taremi stated on آخرین خبر that the players are working with the goal to "bring joy to the entire Iranian nation, both those inside and those outside [the country]," adding that football serves as a tool for strengthening national unity.

National team coach Amir Ghalenoei addressed, in a press conference reported by تبریز خبرلری and فوتبالی, the logistical difficulties the team experienced in the US, noting that "due to travel problems to the US, our camp was changed twice." Ghalenoei emphasized that the team is focused solely on sports and is trying to separate it from politics, while expressing gratitude to the government of Mexico for hosting.

Criticism regarding the conduct of the tournament intensified on SNN.ir, which is affiliated with the conservative student movement in Iran, where Taremi criticized the "visa issuance process" and argued that the tensions surrounding the tournament harm the "peace and tranquility that sports are supposed to represent."

Similar messages were also disseminated by other media outlets such as فوتبال ۳۶۰, کانال اخبار سپاه پاسداران (affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards), and خراسان آنلاین, which emphasized the players' determination to act as a unifying factor for the Iranian public. The team has already completed its tour of the stadium in Los Angeles ahead of the match against New Zealand.