LOS ANGELES:
Iran’s soccer group arrived in america for the primary time at this World Cup on Sunday, touchdown at Los Angeles Worldwide Airport and holding a press convention on the identical day that a peace deal between the 2 nations was introduced.
The Iran squad arrived after a brief flight from Tijuana, Mexico, the place they left their base camp earlier to a rousing sendoff forward of their opening sport towards New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on Monday.
“I’m very pleased to be representing the nice, proud and robust nation of Iran,” Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei stated by way of a translator in a press convention on the stadium.
“I hope that soccer will result in pleasure and pleasure, and convey nearer the cultures and international locations.”
The squad’s Group G fixture towards New Zealand shall be performed towards the backdrop of the U.S. battle with Iran and the newly-announced peace deal, including a charged ambiance to a contest between two nations who’ve by no means met at a World Cup.
Iran moved their World Cup base camp from a sports activities complicated in Arizona to Mexico late final month after the U.S. and Israel carried out joint strikes on Iran starting in late February.
Iran will now must make the journey from Mexico to the U.S. for every of their three group matches and Ghalenoei stated the journey and the denial of visas into the U.S. for some members of their soccer federation had negatively affected the squad.
The U.S.-Iran deal to finish the battle shall be signed throughout an official ceremony on Friday in Switzerland, U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated on social media on Sunday.
‘BRING AN END TO THIS REGIME’
Whereas the squad flew to LA, a bunch of protesters calling for democracy in Iran and denouncing its authorities rallied close to Los Angeles Stadium.
“No Shah – No Mullah in Iran – Regime Change by Iranians,” stated placards. Footage and posters of athletes who protesters stated had died after being arrested by the Iranian authorities lined a busy avenue nook in Inglewood.
The January crackdown on protests in Iran, which rights teams and activists say killed 1000’s – and presumably tens of 1000’s – was a specific outrage to Mojgan Ramezani, 56, an Iranian American on the rally.
“They’re holding hostage their very own folks,” stated Ramezani
Hassan Haddadi, 70, stated he was pissed off that many of the world’s governments had completed little to help change in Iran.
“We’re hoping to deliver consciousness to the western world, to in some way do one thing past simply condemning, to deliver an finish to this regime,” stated Haddadi.
Ghalenoei stated the squad’s gamers and coaches had been “not political folks.”
“We’re right here to play soccer and signify the respectful folks of Iran, be it the Iranians inside Iran or the Iranian diaspora.”
‘MEXICO STANDS WITH YOU’
Earlier in Tijuana, supporters lining five-deep on a packed sidewalk outdoors Iran’s lodge chanted “Group Melli” — Persian for “nationwide group” — because the Iranian gamers emerged from the lodge and walked in the direction of the ready bus.
Most of the gamers waved and smiled at those that had gathered whereas some members of the delegation took video of the scene with their telephones.
One supporter held a yellow signal with black lettering studying: “Iran, you’ll by no means stroll alone. Mexico stands with you.”
A younger boy perched on somebody’s shoulders clutched the official Panini FIFA World Cup 2026 sticker album, open to the Iran squad web page.
At one level, the group sang in Spanish, “Iran, brother, you’re Mexican now.”
Iranian soccer federation President Mehdi Taj stood outdoors the lodge because the gamers left with lots of the supporters following the bus down the road because it drove away.
The Iranian community in Tijuana is tiny – round 20 folks – and far smaller than that of Los Angeles, which is dwelling to the most important Iranian group outdoors Iran.
Tens of 1000’s of Iranian People reside in Los Angeles, the place a distinct diaspora also known as “Tehrangeles” has taken root.
That is the primary World Cup since its inception in 1930 wherein a bunch nation has obtained a rustic it’s at battle with.
