Iran’s treatment during the World Cup is making the team’s performance “more impressive -- while bringing into question the future of a tournament that purports to be apolitical,” according to Mirjam Swanson of the L.A. TIMES. After Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Belgium, the world’s No. 10-ranked team, Iran is “in position to not only get out of its group at the World Cup for the first time, but to win Group G.” The “arbitrary restrictions” have put Iran at a “competitive disadvantage.” Iran’s treatment is also “conjuring up concerns” about how the 2028 L.A. Olympics will operate when L.A. is “supposed to open its arms to the world.” Peace talks are ongoing between the U.S. and Iran, but Iran’s soccer ambassadors have not “been free to move or to prepare as they wish ahead of its matches” against Belgium, and before that, their 2-2 draw against New Zealand. Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei believes that the team will “get greater control over travel arrangements” before its now “hugely consequential” final group-stage match in Seattle against Egypt on June 26 (L.A. TIMES, 6/21). In L.A., Kevin Baxter wrote Iran has “shone brilliantly” in the World Cup “despite the obstacles put in its path.” Ghalenoei said, “In the history of football, it will mean future generations will remember these kids” (L.A. TIMES, 6/21).
RISING ABOVE: USA TODAY’s Nancy Armour wrote “no matter what happens the rest of this tournament, the Iranian players have given a master class in handling adversity.” Armour: “There are many teams that would have cratered in this situation, and no one would have been surprised. … Yet Iran has simply played on.” Iran’s entire performance at this World Cup has been “admirable.” Armour: “We all can take a lesson from it” (USA TODAY, 6/21).
WORD OF MOUTH: Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin before Sunday’s match said that that the Iranians had “‘tried to get somebody in yesterday’ who had direct ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.” The AP’s Amy Taxin reported the Iranian Football Federation in a statement “vociferously pushed back.” The statement said, “The claim that an official representative of the Iranian Football Federation attempted to board a flight to enter the United States yesterday and was prevented from doing so is an outright and undeniable lie” (AP, 6/21).
