AP exclusive: Iran players describe how the war affects their World Cup preparations
Summary
The Iran national football team is preparing for the FIFA World Cup while the country is involved in a war with one of the tournament’s host nations. Players shared that the conflict affects their focus and training, but they remain determined to perform well.Key Facts
- Iran is preparing for the World Cup in Turkey, mainly training in Antalya.
- The team has spent over two weeks in Turkey and some players visited the U.S. embassy in Ankara for visa applications.
- Visa issues caused Iran’s training base to move from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico.
- Iran will be based in Mexico during the World Cup and will play its first two games near Los Angeles.
- Los Angeles has a large Iranian community, many of whom oppose Iran’s current government.
- Player Saeid Ezatolahi is preparing for his third World Cup and talked about the challenge of focusing amid conflict news.
- Player Mohammad Ghorbani is attending his first World Cup despite the special circumstances the team faces.
- Media access to Iran’s World Cup preparations has been limited, and players seldom speak to international journalists.
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