Footage has emerged of the excruciatingly awkward moment FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited Iran’s furious World Cup stars after their opening game… and even joked he could play for the team in their next fixture.
Iran’s players are dealing with a grueling schedule throughout the tournament, flying in and out of their base in Tijuana, Mexico due to them not being allowed to stay on US soil for prolonged periods.
Iran’s presence at the tournament has sparked huge controversy amid the ongoing conflict between their country and the US, but Infantino was on hand in LA to try and rouse the team’s spirits after a 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
‘Tonight was a tough game… with a bit more luck, you win,’ Infantino began, with the help of a translator. ‘But you showed to your families, to your friends, to your people, to the world, that you are in the World Cup, that you perform, and you have two games to go.
‘In these two games, you will make everyone in the world proud of what you are doing. Thank you for being here. It’s big emotions. I know what you go through, I understand, but you are stronger than everything.
‘And you send a strong message to the entire world. Like tonight, you united the whole stadium here. Behind you, you are showing the whole world and sending such a strong message, so thank you.’
Gianni Infantino entered the Iran locker room to address the players at the World Cup
The players did not seem overly enthralled while listening to the FIFA president’s speech
Infantino’s reference to the team having ‘two games’ left was potentially confusing, given the team could have more games should they qualify for the knockout stages.
Clearly, though, the FIFA president doesn’t have overly high hopes of that happening, given he then joked: ‘If coach needs an attacker, I’ll come for the next match to play with you.’
The joke didn’t go down well in the locker room – though that may have been in part due to the language barrier – and he was met with silence.
Infantino’s reference to himself playing for the team comes amid comments from the manager, Amir Ghalenoei, hinting that his players are exhausted given the logistical nightmare they are facing during the tournament.
He called his team ‘the most oppressed in the World Cup’, and revealed they were being immediately sent back to Tijuana after the game in LA on Monday.
The initial plan was for the team to stay in California to recover, before returning to base camp on Tuesday, but it is understood they were made to travel earlier than expected.
A few hours later, Iran’s players were pictured arriving back at their base in Tijuana, Mexico
Captain Mehdi Taremi was one of two members of the team held up at the US border
‘They didn’t even give us time to recover after the game today,’ Ghalenoei said in Farsi. ‘They said to us, you have to leave immediately, whereas today, it’s very important for us to have time for recovery, but yet [we] have been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Mexico, in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that.’
Remarkably, reports later emerged that two of the team’s star players were caught up in drama at the US border as they tried to return to Mexico.
Per RMC Sport, Mehdi Taremi – perhaps the most well-known of the Iranian team – was one, while Saeed Al-Hawie – a member of the coaching staff – was another.
It was reported that the rest of the group had to wait on the plane while the ‘complications’ were ironed out inside the airport terminal.
Manager Ghalenoei had earlier hinted that the substitution of his star player Taremi was due to cramps he was suffering, not helped by the brutal travel conditions facing the team.
‘The fact that they delayed our arrivals, they are forcing us to go back early without time for recovery, they are making the situation more and more difficult, facing us with more hurdles,’ he added. ‘We’re not gonna let that stop us from doing our best.’
Armed guards surround the perimeter of Iran’s hotel in Tijuana ahead of their return to base
Mohammad Mohebbi celebrates after scoring against New Zealand in Los Angeles
Infantino, meanwhile, is reportedly planning to use a free private jet to attend two games a day as much as possible for the rest of the tournament.
The Guardian reports that Infantino, who has been an ever-present during the tournament so far, has access to a plane provided by Qatar Airways, as part of their sponsorship deal with FIFA.
The president attended the opening game of the World Cup in Mexico City on Thursday afternoon, and was then present in Guadalajara just a few hours later for South Korea-Czechia.
The following day, he was in LA for the USA’s opener, and on Saturday he was seen in both San Francisco and Vancouver for Qatar vs Switzerland and Australia vs Turkey respectively.
On Sunday, he jetted to Miami for a FIFA summit, and was then back in LA for Iran’s opening game against New Zealand on Monday night.
Infantino is using a free private jet in an attempt to attend two games a day at the World Cup
Iran’s team lines up for a photo ahead of their controversial appearance at the World Cup
The Guardian reports that Infantino will travel the furthest of anyone involved in the tournament, which the New Weather Institute describes as the ‘most polluting event ever’.
Back in the Iran locker room on Monday night, Infantino finished his rousing speech by telling the players: ‘This is just the beginning of the World Cup. You are writing history. The whole world is watching you.
‘Continue to play with your hearts, for your people, for your families, for your friends, and for everyone in the world, that is falling in love with Team Melli.
‘Let’s go… you are stronger than everything, huh. You are stronger than everything. Come on.’
