Iran Captain Taremi Slams FIFA Over World Cup Conditions, Suggests Bias

Iran's national football team concluded their group stage campaign with a 1-1 draw against Egypt, securing three points from three consecutive draws. This result placed them third in Group 7, leaving their advancement to the knockout stage dependent on the outcomes of other matches.

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This World Cup Has Been A Disaster! As professional footballers, we are not treated with the respect we deserve. If FIFA considers all this fair, okay. For us, it is unfair. Nobody wants to help us.

The team is now looking for favorable results in other groups to qualify as one of the best third-placed teams. Specifically, Iran needs either Croatia to lose to Ghana, the Democratic Republic of Congo to not defeat Uzbekistan, or the match between Algeria and Austria to not end in a draw.

Following the match, team captain and Olympiacos forward Mehdi Taremi voiced strong dissatisfaction with the treatment Iran's national team has received throughout the tournament. He directed his criticism towards FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, describing the World Cup experience as a "disaster."

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The president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, came to our locker room after the first game with New Zealand and told us he would solve all our problems, but he did nothing. It's like they don't want us to advance to the knockout stages.

Taremi highlighted the team's constant travel demands, stating that they are not allowed to remain in the United States between matches as professional footballers should be. He claimed that FIFA had assured them these issues would be resolved, but nothing has been done. Instead of staying in Seattle after their game with Egypt, the team was forced to return to Tijuana, causing significant hardship. Taremi expressed frustration, questioning who is responsible for changing the situation and suggesting it feels like FIFA does not want Iran to progress to the knockout rounds. He concluded by saying Iran is fighting against everyone and feels a lack of peace from others, despite their efforts to play for their people and send a message of peace.

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We are fighting against everyone here. I don't know if the world wants it, but we certainly don't. I feel very sad, but I still have hope that something will change. We always give our best. We play for our people and we want them to be happy. We want to send a message of peace to the whole world, but there is no peace towards us from others.