Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi expressed on Wednesday that preparing for the World Cup in Türkiye poses a significant mental challenge, particularly with tensions due to ongoing conflict between his country and the host nation.
“Honestly, it’s quite tough,” Ezatolahi, 29, admitted regarding the current circumstances.
Throughout the nearly century-long history of the tournament, this is the first instance of a host nation being in conflict with a competing country.
“Ultimately, it will be difficult for us as we stay updated on news from our country, and the political situation undoubtedly impacts the players’ mindset,” he noted.
Ezatolahi, who also represented Iran in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, spoke to The Associated Press during the team’s training camp in Türkiye, where they have been practicing for over two weeks, mainly at the coastal resort of Antalya, while some players traveled to Ankara to apply for visas at the U.S. embassy.
Media access to their preparations has been restricted, with players seldom engaging with international journalists.
The team will head to Mexico this weekend after receiving their visas from the Mexican embassy in Ankara.
As of Thursday, the squad confirmed that the process for obtaining entry permits had been finalized for all team members.
Due to visa processing delays, Iran’s training base was relocated from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, situated on Mexico’s border with California.
Iran is set to play their first two matches near Los Angeles, home to a sizable Iranian community, many of whom oppose the current regime.
“We are undoubtedly anticipating a strong fan presence during our games,” Ezatolahi remarked. “This will add pressure on us, as expectations will be high. I sincerely hope we can make them proud and demonstrate that Iranians are resilient and capable of overcoming any challenge.”
Mohammad Ghorbani, 24, will be participating in his first World Cup with Iran.
“Indeed, we are navigating unique circumstances right now, but we are football players, and our focus must be on playing, practicing, and preparing ourselves for the upcoming competitions,” the Abu Dhabi-based player stated in Farsi to the AP.
“At the same time, we recognize that our people are enduring significant hardships due to the conflict, and we are committed to achieving the best results for their happiness and the joy of our nation.”
The team is not required to be present in the United States until June 14, the day before their opening match against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood.
Iran will face Belgium on June 21 and complete Group G against Egypt on June 26 in Seattle.
“I am immensely proud to represent my national team,” Ezatolahi shared, highlighting his career journey that has taken him through clubs in Spain, Russia, England, Belgium, Denmark, Qatar, and currently, Dubai in the UAE.
“We need to maintain a clear mindset as our mission is to fight for our people, represent our country, and showcase our prowess,” he added.
Ghorbani echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team’s determination to bring happiness to Iranians.
“Our strongest message right now is that the Iranian team embodies unity,” he reflected. “We are demonstrating that we stand as one team under one flag, capable of bringing joy to our entire nation and showcasing the strength of Iranian players and the resilience of our people to the world.”