Iran's preparation for the World Cup has been marred by political tension between the United States and Iran. Striker Mehdi Taremi said: 'This kind of tension undermines the joy of the World Cup. I felt the tension from the first moment we arrived.'
Iran relocated its base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana due to visa, security, and political concerns following months of uncertainty. Manager Amir Ghalenoei told BBC Sport: 'Without any doubt, this kind of behaviour has impacted the spirit of football. These conditions have affected our focus, but I have tried to make sure the players concentrate on strategy and performance.'
The team will play New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where large Iranian-American communities plan to gather. FIFA has banned the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag, angering parts of the diaspora who plan to protest outside the stadium.
A peace agreement to halt US-Iran hostilities was announced on Sunday, but tensions remain elevated. Iran arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday with limited preparation time before Monday's match.
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