Mehdi Taremi criticises FIFA for 'disaster' World Cup in explosive post-match interview

The Iranians finished third in Group G following their third successive draw. They currently sit as one of the eight best-placed teams in third spot, but with three groups still to play on Saturday, it’s unlikely they will make it any further. 

Taremi missed a crucial penalty in the first half, before VAR intervened to rule out a stoppage-time winner after Shoja Khalilzadeh’s toe was adjudged to be offside. 

The Olympiacos striker didn’t want to dwell on the result, instead using his mixed zone appearance to highlight Iran’s plight off the pitch. 

They have not been able to train in the US throughout the tournament, after a last-minute change saw them switched to Tijuana and their travel has also been disrupted due to tight restrictions when travelling to play in the US. 

Alongside this, members of their backroom staff have been unable to travel to games after their visas were denied. 

He explained: "It's a disaster World Cup. A disaster. FIFA has to solve every problem here, but unfortunately, they haven't solved it since the beginning. Mr. Infantino came to our changing room in the first game, and he said, It's just a beginning, but the group stage finishes tomorrow, and we don't have our logistics people here. They don't have a visa."

 “How is it possible we always have to travel to Tijuana. We love the people of Mexico. We love Tijuana. It's so good. They are such humble people. We love them.

“But as a professional player, professional competition, it's not right. It's about our opinion, because now we have travelled again, going to Tijuana again. So without recovery, without nothing. But in our opinion, it's not fair. Is it fair for FIFA? Okay, good to them. But it's not fair.”

Asked whether he felt Iran’s national side had been let down during this World Cup, he said: “No, we do our best, always do our best. We play for other people. We want them to be happy. We want to bring the joy. We want to send a message of peace to the people. In Iran, outside Iran, for FIFA, for everyone. But there is no peace about the others to us.”

With travel back to Mexico scheduled straight after the game, Iran’s players will watch on to see whether their stay will be extended. Taremi admitted that he was down following the draw, but insisted the dressing room was still together. 

He added: "(I am) sad, but we have hope, right? 

“A human being always have a hope, and we had good energy after the game in the dressing room, so, yeah, let's see what will happen. 

“(I am) looking forward to tomorrow’s games. Let's see.”

“… I think we are proud of our game, our players, because of how we did the last 3 games. We are proud of it.”

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