For the Iranian national team, the World Cup is much more than just a sporting event. From the beginning, participation was overshadowed by the war with the USA – and many Iranian exiles used the tournament to send political messages.
Mehdi Taremi writes autographs with a friendly smile but without saying a word. Fans wait for the star striker before traveling to the Iranian national team’s training ground in Tijuana, Mexico.
He leaves the current upheavals surrounding the issuance of visas and entry into the USA for his team uncommented. The few fans at the fence are happy about another autograph in the collection – politics and sport should not be mixed, says one of these fans.
But that’s exactly what hardly seems possible at this World Cup. As the Iranian team prepares for its first group game against New Zealand, it has long since become part of a political dispute.
Iran’s national player Mehdi Taremi gives autographs to fans. The political situation in Iran and the war with the USA accompany him and his team to the World Cup.
Tensions accompany Iranian team
The tensions between the USA and Iran accompanied the team until shortly before the start of the tournament – and ranged from visa disputes to protests by the Iranian diaspora.
This is particularly visible in Los Angeles. Last week, around two hundred people demonstrated in front of the stadium where Iran will play its first World Cup game. Many waved the Lion and Sun flag from before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. They protested against the leadership in Tehran and declared their solidarity with the people of Iran.
At another rally in Los Angeles, exiled Iranians and human rights activists called on FIFA to take action against the Iranian Football Association. They accuse him of exerting political influence and being too close to the power structures of the Islamic Republic.
Ban more oppositional Flags in the stadium?
In Tehran, developments are being followed closely. According to Iranian media reports, Sports Minister Ahmad Donjamali warned against political protests in the stadiums.
The background is the Iranian leadership’s concern that the World Cup could become a stage for demonstrations critical of the regime, especially in Los Angeles, where one of the largest Iranian exile communities lives.
The Iranian Football Association has repeatedly asked the world association to ensure that Iranian spectators are only allowed to bring the official flag of the Islamic Republic into the stadium and not the old Iranian flag.
Sports Minister Donjamali told FIFA that the Iranian team would leave the field as soon as political slogans were heard in the stadiums or spectators showed the old opposition flag.
difficulties upon entry
However, the political dispute is not limited to the games and the stands. Until a few days before the start of the tournament, it was unclear under what conditions the Iranian team would be able to enter the USA.
Due to uncertainties in issuing visas, the Iranian Football Association quickly moved its team headquarters, originally planned in Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico. The players only received their visas ten days before the first game. However, several members of the support and functional team were refused entry by the United States.
The Iranian association therefore accuses Washington of failing to fulfill its obligations as host. The USA rejects the allegations. The US State Department said all visas for players and essential support staff had been issued.
Different information on visa requirements also caused confusion. While the Iranian ambassador to Mexico spoke of entry only on match days, the team referred to visas for multiple entries. The US authorities later clarified that the team would be allowed to enter the country the day before the games.
FIFA sees Iran’s participation as a success
Iran’s national coach Amir Ghalenoei criticized the travel conditions for the team. The team traveled for more than 20 hours on the way from their training camp in Turkey to Mexico. Because of the visa problems and the short-term relocation of the team’s headquarters, valuable preparation time was lost.
For FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Iran’s participation is proof that football can bring people together even under difficult political conditions.
It is already a success that the team is taking part in the World Cup despite all the tensions. Football can enable people to ignore their political and social conflicts, at least for 90 minutes.
The dilemma of this World Cup
But that is precisely the dilemma of this World Cup: While FIFA sees sport as a unifying element, many exiled Iranians see the World Cup stage as an opportunity to draw attention to the situation in their home country. The Iranian leadership, in turn, is trying to keep political messages away from the stadiums.
The Iranian national team doesn’t just arrive in North America with sporting hopes. She also carries her country’s political conflicts with her. Even before the first ball is played, it becomes clear that for Iran this World Cup will probably be much more than a football tournament.