ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) – Iran qualifies for the World Cup while being in conflict with the primary host nation, creating a historically unique situation for the tournament. In exclusive interviews with The Associated Press during the team's camp in Antalya, Turkey, two members of Iran’s squad shared insights on how the ongoing conflict is influencing their preparations for the prestigious event.
Saeid Ezatolahi, a 29-year-old midfielder who previously represented Iran in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, candidly remarked, “It’s not easy.” He noted the complexity of managing the emotional and psychological pressures stemming from the political turmoil in Iran while preparing for his third World Cup. “We are following the news in our country, and the political things can affect the mind of the players and the people,” Ezatolahi stated during a training session on a Wednesday.
The Iranian national team has dedicated over two weeks to training in Turkey, primarily in the coastal resort of Antalya, with several players traveling to Ankara to submit visa applications at the U.S. embassy. Media access to their training has been restricted, leading to limited direct communication between players and international journalists. The team is expected to travel to Mexico soon after having successfully secured visas from the Mexican embassy. Due to issues with visa processing, Iran's training base was shifted from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, located on Mexico’s border with California.
Iran is set to play its first two matches near Los Angeles, a city known for its large Iranian community. Many members of this community are opposed to the current government, creating a unique backdrop for the matches. Ezatolahi expressed optimism about fan attendance at their games, stating, “We are expecting to have a lot of fans during our games at the stadium.” He acknowledged that the expectations from fans would add pressure on the team, wishing to make them proud by showcasing the resilience of Iranians in the face of adversity.
Joining the discussion was Mohammad Ghorbani, a 24-year-old player who is participating in his first World Cup. Acknowledging the difficulties faced by the team, he emphasized the importance of focusing on their role as footballers. “We have to play, practice, and prepare ourselves for the competitions we have ahead,” Ghorbani articulated. He also shared a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by their compatriots back home, stating, “We are going there for them, to get the best results for their joy and the joy of the people of our country.”
The Iranian team is not required to enter the United States until June 14, just one day before their opening match against New Zealand, which will take place at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood. Following this, Iran is scheduled to face Belgium on June 21 and will wrap up its Group G engagements against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Ezatolahi expressed his pride in representing the national team and emphasized the need to focus, saying, “Our target and our duty is to fight for our people, to represent our country and to show how good we are.” Ghorbani echoed this sentiment, stating that the team's unity and determination reflect their mission to bring joy to the Iranian people. “We are one team under one flag that can bring joy to our whole country and show the power of Iranian players and Iranian people to the world,” he concluded.
