Khodadad Azizi, 54, the Iranian football icon who played in the first World Cup clash between Iran and the US in 1998, spoke out against political tensions surrounding the 2026 World Cup. Azizi stressed football’s role in promoting peace and called for a separation from political disputes as Iran prepares to open its campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, 2026 (June 16 Singapore time) [1, 2].
Azizi recalled the historic 1998 match when Iran beat the US 2-1. The teams exchanged flowers and Iranian captain Ahmadreza Abedzadeh presented handicrafts to the Americans. Organizers proposed a group photo before the game to symbolize peace despite political differences. Azizi himself exchanged jerseys with US defender Frankie Hejduk in a gesture showing football transcends politics. FIFA awarded both sides the Fair Play award for their conduct during that match [1, 2].
Reflecting on current events, Azizi said, "I regretted that the atmosphere at the current tournament is filled with nothing but politics." He criticized the strict visa denials to 15 members of the Iranian delegation, including football federation head Mehdi Taj, which forced Iran to relocate their World Cup base camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana on the Mexican border. Azizi said, "I have never seen this level of strictness regarding teams’ entry," contrasting it with the respect shown in previous tournaments [1, 2].
On the football front, Azizi expressed confidence about Iran’s prospects. "If we beat New Zealand, we will advance from our group, and that is not a difficult task," he said. The Iranian team faces a challenging group but progression is attainable with victory in the opener [1].
The 2026 World Cup arrives just months after a peace deal was signed on June 15, 2026, to end Middle East conflicts and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, adding new geopolitical significance to the tournament [1, 2].
Iran’s opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 marks the first critical step in their World Cup journey, with Azizi’s call for peace and sportsmanship setting a hopeful tone ahead of kickoff.