Taremi calls 2026 World Cup a 'disaster' as Iran boss urges Infantino to act over US visa crisis

Iran captain Mehdi Taremi has described the 2026 World Cup as a ‘disaster’ and manager Amir Ghalenoei has publicly urged FIFA president Gianni Infantino to confront the United States over the treatment of the Iranian squad, following Friday’s 1-1 draw with Egypt at the tournament.

Because of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US, Iran’s players and staff are banned from staying on American soil. The squad has been based in Tijuana, Mexico, and required to cross the border on the day of each match — an arrangement that has drawn sharp criticism from within the camp.

Ghalenoei acknowledged that Infantino had made efforts to ease the situation but insisted it was not enough. “I know Mr Infantino has tried his best to minimise the problems as much as possible but it was the host that wasn’t very good to us,” he said at a post-match press conference. “I urge FIFA to not let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future. I hope Mr Infantino will actually stand up to such behaviour.”

Taremi went further, pointing to the fact that 11 senior Iranian officials have been denied US visas throughout the tournament. “Since the beginning, it’s a disaster World Cup,” the striker said. “FIFA, they have to solve every problem here but unfortunately this they couldn’t solve since the beginning. Mr Infantino came to our changing room after the first game and he said, ‘It’s just the beginning’. But the group stage finishes tomorrow and we don’t have our logistic people here — they don’t have a visa. How is that possible?”

Asked whether he believed FIFA and the US wanted Iran eliminated, Taremi did not hold back. “We have to fight against everything here. I don’t know what people want or know, but as we see it by our perspective, yeah, they’d like that, I think.”

On the pitch, Iran’s situation is equally precarious. Friday’s draw left them third in Group G, and while they remain among the eight best third-placed sides, qualification for the round of 32 is not yet secured. The frustration was compounded late in the match when Shoja Khalilzadeh’s stoppage-time effort was ruled out for offside, and Saeid Ezatolah also struck the crossbar. Taremi himself missed a penalty after Ramin Rezaeian’s equaliser.

Iran can still advance if one of three results goes their way: a winner in the Algeria vs Austria match, a Ghana win over Croatia, or a draw or loss in that same fixture.