The Iran national football team has arrived in the United States to compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Iran striker Mehdi Taremi spoke about the political tensions affecting the joy of this event. For the first time, a host nation is competing against a country it is at war with. The Iran national team flew from Tijuana, Mexico, to Los Angeles and faced visa issues. Taremi stated that these tensions undermine the joy and FIFA's message of peace. Head coach Amir Ghalenoi also noted the impact of the convoluted travel on the team's preparations. Despite these challenges, the Iran national football team aims to deliver its best performance in the tournament. Approximately 35,000 Iranian supporters are expected to attend their Group G opener against New Zealand.