Questions surrounding the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were quickly dismissed during a press conference with the Iran women’s national team coach and captain, who expressed confidence in their “good preparation” for the upcoming Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.
On Sunday, it was reported that US-Israeli airstrikes resulted in Khamenei’s death. He had held the position of Iran’s supreme leader since 1989 and faced accusations of numerous human rights violations.
In response, Tehran has initiated counterattacks against various nations, placing the Middle East on high alert.
The Iranian national team is getting ready for their opening match in Group A against South Korea on the Gold Coast, with matches against Australia and the Philippines coming up later in the group stage.
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During the pre-match press conference with coach Marziyeh Jafari and captain Zahra Ghanbari, only three questions were addressed, including one about Khamenei’s death.
The query was presented first in Farsi and then in English, where the journalist asked about their feelings regarding Khamenei’s killing just before their match with South Korea. Jafari provided a response in Farsi, after which an AFC media representative interrupted, stating, “OK, I think that’s all for your question. Thank you for asking. Let’s just focus on the game itself,” and moved on to the next question.
The rest of the press conference revolved around football topics, with players also taking time to explore the Gold Coast Stadium and capture photos on the pitch. The team has been preparing for the tournament amidst ongoing anti-government protests in Tehran, which have faced violent repression.
However, both coach and captain played down any anxiety about their preparation. Jafari noted, through a translator, “In Iran, players were actively participating in league competitions and were well-prepared. Afterward, we met for a few training camps before coming to Australia. Here, we had two or three full training sessions, and I hope we can deliver an exciting match tomorrow.”
Ghanbari added, also via a translator: “We had a great setup in Iran for our team’s preparation. We come here with strong preparations. For tomorrow’s match, we aim to stay focused and showcase a commendable performance and result.”
This marks Iran’s second appearance at the Asian Cup, which serves as qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
“This is the second time I’ve participated in this fantastic tournament,” Ghanbari expressed. “I believe this event is significant, with many great and experienced teams participating. We are determined to qualify for the World Cup, knowing that our matches against Korea, Australia, and the Philippines will be challenging. But we are committed to advancing from our group and ultimately qualifying for the World Cup.”