Iran captain Mehdi Taremi lashed out at FIFA and World Cup organisers in Seattle after a 1-1 Pride Match draw with Egypt, saying FIFA “did nothing” and suggesting organisers would rather Iran were knocked out as visa barriers and disruptions shape the team’s f
The moment Mehdi Taremi stepped into the aftermath of Iran’s Pride Match in Seattle, the frustration didn’t soften—it sharpened.
Iran’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the very first time ever hang in the balance after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Egypt in the controversial match. Hours later. Taremi turned to FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s promise of help. travel and visa restrictions that have dogged Iran’s campaign. and what he described as a weeks-long atmosphere of mudslinging between Iranian officials and the US authorities.
Taremi’s start point was brutal: he called the World Cup a “disaster” after Iran’s opening draw against New Zealand. and he echoed that wording again in Seattle. “We always complain about these things since the beginning, it’s a disaster World Cup. A disaster,” he said. Then he pulled the focus back to the basics—who gets help, and who doesn’t. “As professional players in a professional competition, it’s not right… it’s not fair… if it’s fair for FIFA, okay good to them. But it’s not fair. Who wants to help us… no one helps. No one.”.
From there, the target narrowed to FIFA’s response. Taremi said Infantino visited Iran’s locker room after Iran’s first game against New Zealand and promised solutions. but the captain argued nothing changed in the real world. “Infantino came to [our locker room] the first game [against New Zealand] and said we will solve every problem here. but actually FIFA did nothing.”.
The campaign has been shaped by disruption and paperwork as much as by football. A central part of the story is the travel squeeze: around a dozen members of Iran’s World Cup delegation were denied visas to the United States. With the situation refusing to move, the team had to move its training base to Mexico.
Taremi didn’t just complain about the obstacles—he questioned the intent behind them. Asked whether he felt World Cup organisers. including FIFA and the US authorities. would prefer Iran to be knocked out. he didn’t offer a polite shrug. “We have to fight against everything here. I don’t know if people want [that] or not but as we see it by our perspective. yeah. they are like that I think. ” he said.
He pressed the question further, turning it into a challenge for whoever was meant to be accountable. “Who has to solve this problem for us? Who? FIFA? I don’t know. USA. I don’t know – just mention one name for me.”
The words landed after a 1-1 result that keeps Iran close to the door of the knockout stages—but also underlines how thin the margin can feel when the competition comes with barriers off the pitch. In Seattle. with the pride match ending tied again. Taremi’s message was clear: the fight for Iran’s tournament future is not only happening on the field. and he believes the organisation around it hasn’t matched the promises made in person.
Iran Mehdi Taremi FIFA Gianni Infantino Pride Match Egypt World Cup 2026 Seattle visas US authorities Mexico training base