Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 12:33pm on 15 Jun 2026,Monday Sports
Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei says political tensions and visa restrictions have disrupted his team's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Some Iranian support staff were reportedly denied US visas, forcing the team to shift its training camp from the United States to Mexico before arriving for its opening match against New Zealand. Ghalenoei insisted his players would ignore the controversy, saying, "We are not political people... football is separate from politics." Striker Mehdi Taremi also said the tensions had reduced the joy of the tournament, which should promote peace and unity through football. (PC: NDTV)
