Iran World Cup coach says ‘impacted’ by politics but ignoring ‘hype’

LOS ANGELES: Iran’s coach Amir Ghalenoei said on Sunday political tensions and visa issues have damaged his side’s preparations for the World Cup but insisted his players will not “pay attention to any of the hype.”
Iran have arrived at the tournament under the shadow of a bitter diplomatic row, after the United States — in military conflict with Iran for months — refused to issue visas for some team support staff.
They play their opener against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday, marking the first time that a World Cup host has hosted a country with which it is at war.
The Iran team bus, accompanied by a police motorcycle escort, was met by a small group of anti-regime protesters at training late Sunday.
Much larger demonstrations are planned outside the stadium by members of the Iranian diaspora opposed to the nation’s hard-line regime, and there have been threats that the Iran team could walk off the pitch if anti-government banners are displayed.
“We are here to perform a good match, a high-quality match. We don’t pay attention to any of the hype and anything that goes on around us,” Ghalenoei said in a press conference in response to a question from AFP.
“Naturally, all teams have their own problems, and in many countries, many things happen that have nothing to do with football.”
The coach said his team are simply at the World Cup to “represent the respectful people of Iran, be it the Iranians inside Iran or the Iranian diaspora.”
“We are not political people...