Iran captain Mehdi Taremi launched a scathing criticism of FIFA following Team Melli's exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026, calling the tournament a "disaster" and accusing world football's governing body of failing to resolve the visa and travel issues that affected the Iranian squad throughout the competition. His remarks came moments after Iran's 1-1 draw against Egypt ended their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
The geopolitical turmoil surrounding Iran’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign took a drastic turn following their 2-2 opening draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei heavily criticized tournament organizers and immigration officials, labeling Team Melli as the “most oppressed team in the World Cup."
