Pezeshkian praises Iran’s World Cup team after hero’s welcome in Tehran
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised the national football team after it received a hero's welcome on its return to Tehran, following a World Cup campaign overshadowed by travel restrictions imposed by co-host the United States.
Expressing appreciation for the efforts of “the members of our country’s national football team who returned to dear Iran today,” Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that “fighting with all your heart until the very last moment is more important than victory.”
“Scientific work, maintaining morale, a transformational approach, and high motivation are the conditions for victory in the future,” he added.
Despite its elimination from the tournament, the national team's performance was widely welcomed by the public, and officials from the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and the Football Federation.
As the aircraft carrying the team arrived at Mehrabad International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, the team received a hero’s welcome by crowds of people and officials of the Football Federation.
The fans who were present at the airport expressed their complete satisfaction with the national team's performance in the World Cup, cheering on the players and coaching staff.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also hailed the team’s “courage”, and patriotism, as they “defended the name of Iran in the great World Cup arena, sang our country's national anthem to the ears of the world, and displayed the proud flag of Iran”, while mourning Imam Hussein (AS) and observing the Muharram rituals, and grieving the martyrdom of the leader of the Islamic Revolution and their compatriots who lost their lives during the recent US-Israeli aggression against Iran.
In the initial round of the World Cup, the Iran national team remained undefeated, but failed to secure enough points to advance.
The Iranian team captain, Mehdi Taremi, described it as “a disaster World Cup” amid the US restrictions, blaming FIFA.
“I mean, FIFA, they have to solve every problem here but unfortunately they could not solve it since the beginning,” Taremi said at a news conference on Friday after the team drew with Egypt.
He noted that the team did not have “logistics people here.” “We always complain about these things but no one helps. No one.”
His remarks came as the US administration denied visas to key Iranian staff and severely restricted players’ travel.
The team was required to return immediately to Mexico after each match as its base camp was moved from Arizona to Tijuana.
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