Iran captain Taremi cites travel and diplomatic tensions ahead of World Cup opener vs New Zealand

At a press conference the day before Iran’s opening match against New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles, captain Mehdi Taremi said he “feels the tension since the first moment” of the tournament. He apologized for a 15‑minute delay in the kickoff, explaining that the team left Tijuana at 10:00 a.m. and only departed for Los Angeles at 15:00 p.m., a travel log the federation had posted with photos of the squad landing.

Iran’s camp had moved its base from Arizona to Mexico because of ongoing US‑Iran political friction, and several nations reported visa problems that forced training‑camp relocations. Coach Amir Ghalenoei thanked the Mexican hosts and stressed the team’s focus on giving fans joy despite the difficulties. He noted that other countries also faced similar visa hurdles.

The press conference coincided with news that the United States and Iran had reached a provisional agreement to end hostilities, mediated by Pakistan, though FIFA officials declined to discuss it. New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley said the match would be treated like any other World Cup game and that any protests by Iranian exiles in Los Angeles would not affect play.