Iran captain Mehdi Taremi has launched a scathing attack on FIFA and president Gianni Infantino, describing the 2026 World Cup as a “disaster” and accusing organisers of failing to resolve ongoing logistical and visa problems that have plagued his team’s campaign.
Speaking after Iran’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Egypt in Seattle on Friday — a result that left their knockout hopes hanging by a thread — the 33-year-old striker did not hold back. “It’s a disaster World Cup. A disaster,” Taremi told reporters.
The Iran squad has been forced to base itself in Tijuana, Mexico, after being denied the ability to establish a training camp on US soil. Under strict visa conditions, players and staff are permitted to enter the United States only on match days and must return to Mexico immediately after each game. Iran’s three Group G matches — against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Seattle on June 21, and Egypt in Los Angeles on June 26 — have required the team to make repeated cross-border journeys.
Taremi revealed that Infantino visited Iran’s dressing room after their opening match against New Zealand and offered assurances that would ultimately prove hollow. “He came after the first game and said he can solve every problem here but actually FIFA did nothing,” Taremi said. The FIFA president reportedly told the squad “it’s just the beginning” — words that now ring hollow with the group stage concluding on Saturday.
“The group stage finishes tomorrow and we don’t have our logistic people here — they don’t have a visa,” Taremi said. “How is it possible we always have to travel from Tijuana? We love the people of Mexico. We love Tijuana. They are humble people and we love them. But as a professional player in a professional competition, it’s not right”.
The visa crisis has been severe: 13 to 15 members of Iran’s delegation — including team management, analysts, executives and media officials — were denied entry to the United States. Key logistics and recovery staff remain absent, leaving the squad to operate without essential personnel.
“We don’t have recovery or logistic people to help us. We always complain about these things but no one helps, no one,” Taremi said.
Asked whether he believed World Cup organisers would prefer Iran to be eliminated, Taremi replied: “We have to fight against everything here. I don’t know what people want, but as we see it from our perspective, yeah, they’d like that, I think”.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei echoed his captain’s frustrations, urging Infantino to “stand up” to the tournament hosts. “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,” Ghalenoei said. “I urge FIFA to not let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future”.
FIFA had not immediately responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
