Iran player talks World Cup amid US-Israel war

Iran is heading toward the 2026 World Cup as its country is at war with the United States and Israel, an unprecedented situation in tournament history. The conflict began on February 28 and a temporary ceasefire on April 8 has not brought certainty, as fighting could resume at any moment.

For Iran's players and coaching staff, this situation has thrown World Cup preparations into turmoil. All of their group-stage matches are scheduled to take place in the United States, a country at war with Iran. The team has spent more than two weeks training in Turkey, mainly at the coastal resort city of Antalya, while some members had to travel to the capital Ankara to apply for visas at the U.S. embassy.

Saeid Ezatolahi, a 29-year-old midfielder who played at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, said: “To be honest, this is not easy. This is my third World Cup, so for me and some other players, it may be easier to manage things like this. But in the end, it will still be difficult because we have to follow the news about our country and political issues, and that definitely affects the minds of the players and the people.”

The team is scheduled to fly to Mexico this weekend after receiving visas from the Mexican embassy in Ankara. The entry clearance process has been completed for all members. Earlier, visa processing issues forced Iran to move its training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, a Mexican border city near California.

Iran will play its first two matches near Los Angeles, which has a large Iranian diaspora community – many of whom oppose the current government. Ezatolahi said: “We definitely expect many fans in the stadium. This will put a lot of pressure on us because expectations are very high. I just hope we can make them proud and show that Iranians are ready for any challenge.”

Mohammad Ghorbani, 24, making his first World Cup appearance for Iran, said: “It is true that we are facing extraordinary circumstances, but we are football players, we have to play and train. On the other hand, we know that the people have gone through many difficulties during the war, and we are going there for them, to bring the best results for the joy of the country.”

In the initial attacks, the United States and Israel killed Iran's supreme leader and several senior officials. Iran responded with attacks on Israel, U.S. forces and Gulf states, and also maintained a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, threatening global energy supplies. Despite a nominal ceasefire, Iran and the United States have not negotiated a lasting peace, and attacks continue in the region.

Iran is in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt. The team does not need to enter the United States until June 14, a day before their opening match against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Rams stadium in Inglewood. Iran will face Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood and conclude the group stage against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.

Ezatolahi, who has played for clubs in Spain, Russia, England, Belgium, Denmark, Qatar and Dubai, emphasized: “I am really proud to be a member of the national team. We need to clear our minds and stay fresh because our goal and duty is to fight for the people, represent the country and show how good we are.”

Ghorbani concluded: “The best message I can send right now is that the Iran national team is showing what a collective means. We are one team under one flag, we can bring joy to the whole country and show the world the strength of Iranian players and people.”